Hurnboldt's Letters. 361 



magnetic storms (the polar light), electric storms in the 

 douds, nervous storms in man, heavy and light ones 

 perhaps, also, sheet lightning, foreboding the others. 

 I had serious thoughts of death, comme un homme gui 

 part, ayant encore beaucoup de lettres d ecrire. Other 

 interests, which for ever remain alive in me, bind me to 

 the memories of yesterday ! ! I believe myself in full 

 convalescence; but as I had to rest much on the bed 

 without occupation, sadness and displeasure of the 

 world have increased in me. This I say to you alone. 

 I shall soon come to you, and thank you orally from 

 the depths of my soul. All around us puts us to shame. 

 In most intimate friendship, your most faithful 



A. v. HUMBOLDT. 



Varnhagen writes in his diary, March 19th, 1857: 

 " Unexpectedly a letter from Humboldt ! I had writ- 

 ten under my congratulation, that these lines were not 

 so immodest as to expect an answer. But he, neverthe- 

 less ans^yers, and in the most obliging, most heart-glad- 

 dening manner. He gives a remarkable report of his 

 sickness. The bad reports were all untrue, at least 

 exaggerated ; he never lost consciousness or language, 

 his pulse remained as usual. Yet he did not conceal 

 from himself, that it might be the end. " I had serious 

 thoughts of death, comme un homme qui part, ayant 

 encore beaucoup de lettres a 6crire 1" Grand and fine is 



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