24 



tion, for supplying my own deficiency in respect of 

 the former. 



Yours most gratefully, 



A. HUMBOLDT. 



XXII. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, 28th March, 1836. 



A mind like yours, my generous friend, is able to 

 devise in its tenderness and its vigour a justification 

 for all. I am therefore not afraid, after so long an 

 absence, and a winter cut up by princely attendances 

 and festivities, to come before you this morning with 

 a request. You are the only man in this town, poor 

 in tone and intellectually desolate as it is, who dis- 

 plays a soul for the measured expression of sorrowful 

 sentiment and for harmony of style. May I beg of 

 you to cast a critical glance over the accompanying 

 sheets.* Einging the changes of laudation for forty 

 individuals has been an odious style- destroy ing neces- 

 sity. It was settled who were to be invited to the 

 high table. I think, too, that I have saved myself 

 rather cleverly by certain individual hints, and a 

 graduated panegyric. I beg you will allow me to call 

 to-day towards eleven to fetch the sheets for which 

 the printer is in a hurry, and to profit by any obser- 

 vations you may be disposed to make. If necessary, 

 I will alter sous votre dictee at your house. It would 

 be an act of charity if you would receive me by your 

 bedside. Yours, with deep respect, 



Monday. A. HUMBOLDT. 



I shall call at eleven. 



* Preface to Wilhelm von Hutnboldt's work on the Kawi language. Tn. 



