152 



CX. 



HUMBOLDT TO FRIEDRICH WlLHELM THE FOURTH. 



This morning, as early as eight o'clock, I sent to the 

 Kb* then Strasse, in order to arrange, in compliance 

 with Your Majesty's confidential mission, an interview 

 with Professor Massmann* upon the present crisis in his 

 affairs. He has just quitted me, having again left a 

 glorious impression of solidity, clearness of thought, 

 and enthusiastic energy in influencing youth, that 

 indestructible, ever youthful institution of humanity. 

 To be mistrustful of all inspiriting agencies, is to 

 deprive the State of its nourishing and sustaining 

 power. It is now two years since Professor M. 

 has seen Minister von Bodelschwingh, but the 

 latter had then treated him very kindly ; and now it is 

 the wish of Massmann, without obtruding himself, to 

 be in a position to answer any question without em- 

 barrassment. As I anticipate great things from this 

 interview, considering the noble and open charac- 

 ter of Minister von Bodelschwingh, I must very 

 humbly beg Your Majesty to let me be informed, 

 whether, according to the orders you have given, the 

 Minister is to send for Professor M., or whether 



* Hans Ferdinand Massmann was born at Berlin, 1797, and is now Pro- 

 fessor of Mediaeval German Language and Literature in the University of 

 that city. One of Heinrich Heine's betes noires, a promoter and teacher of 

 gymnastics according to Jahn's system, which, in 1820, were put down as 

 demagogical. In addition to the works named in the above letter, he pub- 

 lished a magnificent commentary on the " Germania " of Tacitus. He also 

 collected and edited the literature of the " Dance of Death," and wrote the 

 " History of Mediaeval Chess." He was summoned to Berlin in 1842, by the 

 Prussian Government, and intrusted with the foundation of a National 

 Institution for Gymnastics. TR. 



