40 



eyes may see the beautiful eyes which have led you, 

 to our literary benefit, into the labyrinth of Scla- 

 vonic languages ? 



I have called twice on Mr. TL, and as he was 

 not at home, I left a card for him, in addition 

 to which I have written him an affectionate letter, 

 with offers of service for Petersburg (for the jour- 

 ney to Geneva), but have not heard a syllable from 

 him since. Such behaviour in a young man, who but 

 for me would still be sitting at Orenburg as a small 

 Cossack official, is difficult of explanation. 



Most gratefully yours, 



A. HT. 



If I may call don't answer this. 



XXXV. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, 3rd August, 1838. 



I look upon you, my honoured friend, as the arbiter 

 not only of good taste, but also of grace and aristo- 

 cratic manners. I have written two essays, which have 

 not yet been printed, for Cotta's* new Quarterly pub- 

 lication, with which his advisers are much delighted : 

 a description of the natural features of the plateau of 

 Bogota, and on the fluctuations of the yield of gold 

 since the middle ages. He sent me for the two 

 (making four sheets in print) a draft on Frege for 

 fifty Friedrichs d'or, that is more than twelve 

 Friedrichs d'or per sheet. Much as I want money, 

 I should like to send back half of it ; but in carrying 

 out this resolve, it occurs to me that I ought first to 



* Deutsche Viertel-Jahrschrift. 



