360 Humboldt's Letters. 



still shine upon us for a long time in accustomed splen- 

 dor, and may forebode, as heretofore, health and wealth 

 at home and abroad. 



With profound veneration and gratitude, 



Ever faithfully your most devoted 



VARNHAGEI* VON ENSE. 



These lines are not so presumptuous as to expect an 

 answer. 



199. 



HUMBOLDT TO YAENHAGEN. 



BERLIN, March 19th, 1857 at Night. 



How should I deny myself the pleasure to thank 

 you, the dearest, ablest, and most attached of my 

 friends. Not indulgence no, praising expressions on 

 my address to Boeckh a praise of form, of the vesture 

 of thought has been my lot from the lips of the master 

 of language, and of the delicate turns of good-will. 

 You caused me great joy, more than you anticipated. 

 What my nervous affection was, which produced a 

 paralysis of such short duration, with the functions of 

 the brain remaining entirely free, with pulse unchanged, 

 with preservation of sight, and of all motion of the 

 extremities subject to will, I cannot divine. There are 



