IV. 



HlJMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, 1 5th April, 1828. 



Might I disturb you to-day for a few moments, be- 

 tween a quarter past two and three, to ask for advice in a 

 literary matter. My book is to be called "Entwurf einer 

 PhysischenWeltbeschreibung" ("Outlines of a Physical 

 Description of the World") . I wished upon the title to 

 have indicated the special occasion of the Lectures, and 

 at the same time to have insinuated that I was giving 

 more than the Lectures contained, and matter of 

 another kind. " From Eecollections of Lectures in 

 the years 1827 and 1828, by Al. v. Humboldt," has, 

 I understand, been found absurdly pretentious. I 

 give it up with all my heart ; but " Souvenirs d'un 

 Cours de Physique du Monde," " Souvenirs d'un Voy- 

 age en Perse," appear to me unobjectionable. How 

 am I to manage the title " Outlines of a Phys. D., 

 by A. v. H." (" re-written on the occasion of Lectures," 

 or, " partly re- written from Lectures") ? All these have 

 a clumsy look. Adverbs are out of place in title- 

 pages. How would it be if I were to add in small 

 print, " part of this work was the subject of Lectures, 

 in the years 1827 and 1828 ?" That's long, and then 

 the verb ! " On occasion," is perhaps better. I trust to 

 your ingenuity. I am sure you will help me out of 

 this maze. 



Yours sincerely, attached and obedient, 



A. HUMBOLDT. 



Note ly Varnhagen. It was I myself, who had, at the table 

 of Prince Augustus, criticised the first title he mentions; Hum- 

 holdt had heard of it through Beuth. 



B 2 



