392 Humboldt's Letters. 



the same excuse to Humboldt as he made to me, that 

 noble birth was indispensable, which Humboldt thinks 

 quite detestable, and moreover entirely in harmony with 

 the personal prejudices of the Grand Duke ; the father, 

 he says, who also was not very remarkable, had at least 

 concealed this sentiment, but the son expresses it 

 openly ; once, after a man who was not of noble birth 

 had left the company, he had with great satisfaction 

 given utterance to his delight, saying, 'Now we are 

 among ourselves ! ' Another time, when some one 

 observed that thirteen were at the table, he replied for 

 consolation, that two among them were not nobles, and 

 therefore did not count ! and this he said to Humboldt 

 in French, because, he said, these two would certainly 

 not understand that! Humboldt complained bitterly 

 of the mass of letters by which he was visited ; he had 

 to read at least 400 of them in one month ; many com- 

 menced, c Noble old man,' or, ' Noble youthful old 

 man ;' or also in this fashion : ' Caroline and I are 

 happy ; our fate is in your hands.'* He praised Princess 

 Victoria, saying, that she was not pretty, but had 

 pleasing simple manners, and an eye full of soul." 



* Meaning " Caroline and I can get married, if you will help us to 

 some money." 



