138 



the true merit of the author his powers of description 

 and method! You have again brought to honour 

 the old word discipline, as applied to the Sciences. God 

 grant that it may regain its eternal rights in civil 

 society as well ! 



Although my impressions are only of small value, 

 the case is otherwise with those of professional men. 

 Their judgment is heightened to admiration, and I 

 agree with them in the opinion, that you alone amongst 

 the living possess the power of solving the problem, 

 and that the term " Kosmos " was the only one that 

 could fittingly have described your undertaking. T told 

 you that I had read the first volume, I am now engaged 

 in the study of it. I thank you for the truly happy 

 hours which you have afforded me such I call those 

 which allow me to exchange the ungrateful field of 

 politics for that of the Natural Sciences. 



Accept, my dear Humboldt, the renewed assurance 

 of my sincere, and, to you, long-known affection, 



METTERNICH. 



XCIX. 

 JULES JANIN TO HUMBOLDT, 



Hotel de VEtoile a Bonn, dimanche soir, 10 aodt, 1845. 



Monsieur,- Je vous prie et je vous supplie de m'ac- 

 corder une chose impossible. Vous etes le plus bien- 

 veillant ami des gens de lettres de mon pays, vous avez 

 toujours ete pour moi le plus indulgent des hommes. 

 Voici ma priere, s'il vous plait. 



II y a huit jours que j'ai quitte Paris, tout expres 

 pour parler au " Journal des Debats" du voyage de 

 S. M. la Eeine d'Angleterre sur les bords du Ehin. 



