107 



at that of Metternich, or what our relations are with Russia, are mat- 

 ters of perfect indifference, nay, he hardly gives them a thought. 

 Whoever is favourite for the time and manages to indulge his fancies, 

 has the game in his own hands. Bunsen, Radowitz, and Canitz 

 stand highest with him ; Stolberg, only in the second rank. With 

 all that, there is the greatest absence of mind and thoughtlessness. 

 E-iickert had, on the occasion of his recovery, sent the Queen some 

 pretty poems. They were pronounced charming, but no one thought 

 of the propriety of sending an acknowledgment after the receipt of 

 such an offering. At last, long afterwards, it occurred to the Queen 

 to do so, and Riickert was to be sent for, but he had left Berlin some 

 three weeks before ! As for Schelling, the King scarcely sees him 

 once in a twelvemonth ; since he has got him, he cares little about 

 him ; Steffens, too, though he likes him, he rarely invites. Reu- 

 mont* is a slight exception in the list, and has some share in the 

 favouritism of Bunsen and Count v. Briihl. (They are joking here 

 about * * *, his dancing, &c. Humboldt said he was green, if he 

 does not happen to be exactly yellow ; the King replied, Everybody 

 looks so at * * *) Bunsen has not grown wiser. He proposed to 

 the King to buy California, to send missionaries there, &c. He 

 energetically favours the enterprises of Baroness Helfert. He wished 

 to send out his. own son with her, and offered to supply from his 

 private means 12,000 sterling towards establishing colonies where 

 the missions should form the principal element. However, he with- 

 drew his offer, seeing that he could not rely on t&e sympathies of 

 the King. Meanwhile Baroness Helfert has, for the present, received 

 from the King a present of 10,000 thalers only; but Minister 

 Rother,f who opposed her more extended plans, was still obliged to 

 send two agents, who were to report on the condition of the estates 

 of Baroness Helfert in the East Indies. They also wished to induce 

 the King to take interest in the settlements in Texas, always with 

 an interweaving of religious interests. Humboldt had written to 

 Bunsen urging him strongly to warn Eichhorn, and consider the 

 hatred which his way of acting must produce, and which the King 



* Alfred Reumont, a native of Aachen, Prussian Minister at Rome, a co- 

 pious writer on Italian history, poetry, and archaeology. Tit. 

 f Minister of Finance. Tn. 



