to Gans,* who entertained extremely sanguine hopes with reference to 

 the new Government : ' Believe me, my dear Mend, my wishes coin- 

 cide with your own ; but I have very feeble hopes. I have watched 

 the change of dynasties in Paris for the last forty years. Each has fallen 

 from its own incapacity. Fresh promises are always ready to take the 

 place of their predecessors ; but they never are fulfilled, and the same 

 ruinous course is entered on anew. I have known, and, indeed, in 

 some instances, "been intimate with most of the men of the day. 

 Among them were some of distinguished talent and the best inten- 

 tions, but they did not last. Sometimes they were no better than 

 their predecessors, and often turned out even greater rogues. No 

 Government has as yet kept faith with the people ; none has looked 

 on its own interests as of subordinate importance to the public good. 

 Until that happens no power will be permanently established in 

 France. The nation has always been deceived, and now will be 

 deceived again. Then again, too, will it punish these frauds and 

 tricks, and for that it is already ripe and strong.' " 



VIII. 



VARNHAGEN TO HUMBOLDT. 



Berlin t ^rd January, 1833. 



Of course it was me your Excellency lately met 

 in the full blaze of a noonday sun. Unfortunately I 

 recognised you too late, as you also were too late in 

 recognising me. Fain would I have hurried after you, 

 but a pace rapid enough to have overtaken you would 

 have been unsuitable in my present state. I wanted at 

 the time to have mentioned to your Excellency a cir- 

 cumstance connected with Baron Billow, f in London. 



* Edward Gans born 1798, died 1839 ; Professor of Law at the University 

 of Berlin, and representative of the Hegelian School of Philosophy. He en- 

 joyed a great reputation for conversational power. TR. 



f Baron Billow was the son-in-law of Wilhelm von Humboldt, and Prussian 

 Minister in London from 1827 to 1841. He is called here daring by Varn- 

 hagen, because, contrary to his instructions, he cultivated the friendship of 

 the Whigs, and especially of Palmerston ; the danger alluded to was his 

 impending recall, and replacement by Bunsen. TR. 



