39 



kindliness, which you here and there appeared to have 

 treated rather severely. "II n'y a rien de maudit," 

 said the great painter Gerard, " que de consnlter la 

 famille sur la ressemblance du defunt. II y a de quoi 

 se prendre, telle est leur exigeance ! Us auraient fait 

 bon marche du parent vivant." That's what you will 

 say of me. In conclusion, I ask myself whether I am 

 not, by begging you in the commencement not to 

 print the paper, robbing my tenderly and anxiously 

 beloved brother of a great fame. 



I sJiould, indeed, be robbing him of fame, for who 

 is there that could write about him with such pene- 

 trating truth and eloquence? What I therefore now 

 wish to sacrifice, and venture to entreat of you, is after 

 all a trifle. With your skill in composition, the change 

 is easily made. I allude to the few lines which in pages 



13 and 14 I have underlined; Rahel's opinion (pages 



14 and 15) not included. She is always gentle, just, 

 and graceful. Eeceive then, my honoured friend, my 

 warmest, heartfelt thanks. Don't answer this; I 

 shall call on you to-morrow about twelve. 



Yours, 



A. HUMBOLDT. 







XXXIV. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, 9th June, 1838. 



I arn very happy, my honoured friend, in being able 

 to present you with the only volumes of the great 

 Eussian poet* which have yet appeared. May I call 

 on you to-morrow (Sunday) at one o'clock, that my 



* Pusclikin. 



