36 



XXXII. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Saturday, 22nd October, 1837. 2 A.M. 

 After a very depressing stay of nearly a week in 

 Potsdam, I find on my return your affectionate token 

 of remembrance. Accept this very evening, my dear 

 friend, my warmest thanks. You have praised my 

 endeavours the object of my highest ambition to 

 avoid fossilization, so long as I am permitted, to be 

 active, and to hold fast the belief that "Nature 

 has laid her curse upon stagnation." Youth is the 

 emblem of Progress, and the ruling powers here (the 

 Berlin world-elephants) sont des monies en service 



extraordinaire. Good night. 



A. HUMBOLDT. 



XXXIII. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, Tuesday, ItJi November, 1837. 

 The beginning of my letter is poor : the end of it more 

 rational. But you must not lose the dramatic effect of the 

 whole ! 



What you ask, my dear friend, is attended with mortal 

 risk, involving, as it does, not only my own feelings, but 

 those of a family who nervously suspect allusions in 

 every word. The more telling and spirited your sketch, 

 particularly at pp. 10 15 [" He started from leading 

 principles" . . " What many entirely deny him" . . ], 

 the more unearthly everything appears in this short 

 essay, as the softening element would be implied in 

 the portraiture of a complete and, in the political and 



