Humboldt's Letters. 365 



It is convenient for him, and delicate and sparing for the 



other party. has acted correctly in this respect 



up to the present time. I am very anxious to see the 

 end of the matter ; taking for granted that there was a 

 good relation present in the germ. Success would give 

 me extraordinary satisfaction. 



The present you make me of the letter of the Grand 

 Duke delights me very much. Not only the end is in 

 good taste and fine, but the whole style has agreeable 

 turns ; and above all, the reverence for your Excellency 

 expresses itself in a manner, the heartfelt sincerity of 

 which cannot be misunderstood. 



For some days I have been living entirely in recollec- 

 tions of past times and relations. The correspondence 

 between Gentz and Adam Mueller, just now published 

 by Cotta, keeps me spellbound, and I must contemplate 

 the whole series of those experiences in my reviving 

 recollection. 



I have known both men early and intimately, and 

 have had much intercourse with them, personally, of a 

 friendly character, in measures generally an adversary. 

 The supeiiority of Gentz over the younger friend, whom 

 he greatly overvalued, never was doubtful to me, and is 

 here confirmed anew ; only at last when the murder of 

 Kotzebue deranges and stupifies the mind, the force of 

 terror drives the statesman, who formerly was fond of 

 clearness, into the gloomy nebulous strata, to which the 



