Ill 



I have given you these notes from the King, although 

 they are unimportant. It would be very prejudicial 

 to me just now. 



With unchanged esteem, yours, 



A, v. HUMBOLDT. 



Monday evening. 



LXXVIL 

 J. W. T. TO HUMBOLDT. 



Ho f gen, near Solingen, March 2,1st, 1844. 

 Your Excellency will not take it amiss that I ven- 

 ture to address you. Some time since I read in a 

 newspaper, that some one from Konigsberg had written 

 to you about some secrets of Nature, namely, of taking 

 photographs in the dark. From that I gather that 

 your Excellency is a Natural Philosopher, and has ac- 

 quaintances and friends who are also Philosophers. I, 

 too, have made important discoveries in secrets of 

 Nature ; and my present employments not permitting 

 me to make further progress in them, I should like, 

 for once, to speak to you about them. Perhaps we 

 may be useful to each other. I will gladly make a 

 journey to Berlin to see you. Will your Excellency 

 please, in case my visit would not be disagreeable, to 

 write to me as soon as possible, saying at what time I 

 could best see you in Berlin. In hopes of receiving a 

 favourable reply, I salute your Excellency with highest 

 respect, and remain your most obedient, 



J. W. T, 



Gottfried H., merchant, Berlin, could give you 

 some account about my position and character. 



