LETTER FROM HUMBOLDT, 



255 



My brother leaves two works which we in- 

 tend to pubHsh : one upon the languages and 

 ancient Indian civilization of the Asiatic archi- 

 pelago, and the other upon the structure of 

 languages in general, and the influence of that 

 structure upon the intellectual development of 

 nations. This last work has great beauty of 

 style. We shall soon begin the publication 

 of it. My brother's extensive correspondence 

 with all those countries over which his philo- 

 logical studies extended brings upon me just 

 at present, such a multiplicity of occupations 

 and duties that I can only write you these 

 few lines, my dear friend, as a pledge of my 

 constant affection, and, I may also add, my 

 admiration of your eminent works. It is a 

 pleasure to watch the growing renown of 

 those who are dear to us ; and who should 

 merit success more than you, whose elevation 

 of character is proof against the temptations 

 of Hterary self-love? I thank you for the 

 little you have told me of your home life. It 

 is not enough to be praised and recognized as 

 a great and profound naturalist ; to this one 

 must add domestic happiness as weU. . . . 



I am about finishing my long and weari- 

 some work of (illegible) ; a critical examination 

 into the geography of the Middle Ages, of 



