" YOUR last letter, so honourable for me, contained 

 words which I should not like to misunderstand. 

 ' You scarcely permit to yourself the possession of 

 my impieties.' After my speedy decease you may 

 deal as you please with such property. We only owe 

 truth in this life to such persons as we deeply esteem, 

 therefore it is due to you." 



Letter from Alexander von Humboldt to Varnhagen, 7th Decem- 

 ber, 1841. 



