108 



certainly must share. When Bunsen was here, he spoke to him 

 energetically to the same effect, representing the matter to him in 

 the most serious light ; but Eunsen, who had talked to him for two 

 hours with the greatest eagerness about Egypt, thereupon answered 

 never a word, but rose and went away. Humboldt thinks him vain 

 enough to accept a place in the Cabinet. It seems to me that Hum- 

 boldt has by far too much intercourse with Bunsen, and shows him 

 too much friendship. The Queen, Humboldt thinks, has no Eoman 

 Catholic predilections ; on the contrary, is an arch-Protestant, and 

 more zealous even than the King himself, whom she constantly urges 

 on in this direction. Her influence would be more effective if she 

 understood the matter better. 



" In the evening, Humboldt sent me a kind note accompanied by 

 the book ' Kussie, Allemagne, et France,' par Marc Pournier, Paris, 

 1844, and eighteen valuable autographs of Arago, Metternich, Peel, 

 Stanley, Recamier, Balzac, Prescott, Brunei, Herschel, Bresson, 

 Helene of Orleans, the Duchess of Dino, and four confidential cheer- 

 ful notes of the King, addressed to him. A splendid gift !" 



LXXVL 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



JBerlin, April 1st, 1844. 



I will try, my noble-hearted friend, whether by the offer 

 of some few unimportant presents besides the horrible 

 Ruthenic (Little Russian) poison,* I can provide you 

 with some enjoyment for to-night. That I am nattered 

 in all the letters, except in the one from our friend of 

 Solingen, has not been able to prevent my offering 

 you what might interest you. 



1. Lord Stanley, the present Minister, f to whom I 

 had recommended a cousin of our Dieffenbach, { the 



* "Kussie, Allemagne, et France." Par Marc Fournier. Paris. 1844. 

 The Ruthenes (who were " invented " by Metternich) are a very inconsider- 

 able branch of the Slavonic nation settled in Gallicia. TK. 



f Secretary of State for the Colonies. TR. 



J The eminent surgeon at Berlin. TR. 



