173 



of * * *, an opinion was expressed that it was but small. Hum- 

 boldt disputed it. ' I deny that,' said he, ' I have lately held a 

 conversation with him. Meeting me in the apartments of his 

 mother, he said, "Who are you?" I said, "My name is Hum- 

 boldt. ' ' ' ' And what are you ?" "A Chamberlain of His Maj esty . ' ' 

 " Is that all ?" said the Prince, and he turned upon his heel and 

 walked away. Unquestionable proof that, I think, of genius !' " 



cxxv. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, 28A November, 1846. 



I will say nothing to-day, my dear friend, about 

 the glorious volume of your memoirs. You seem to 

 succeed in everything you undertake. My object is 

 to introduce to you M. Graluski, a talented Frenchman, 

 who is better acquainted with Germany than you or I, 

 and the writer of an Essay on A. W. Schlegel. He 

 will stay here only a few days. Keep the autograph 

 of Barante.* 



Saturday. A. V. HUMBOLDT. 



CXXYI. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, 6th December, 1846. 

 It may, perhaps, be some time, my dear friend, be- 



* Letter of Introduction for M. Galuski from Barante to Humboldt. TR. 



f Baron Guillaume Prospere Brugiere Barante, a French statesman and 

 savant, born 1782, in Auvergne. He was Prefect of La Vendee, and after- 

 wards of the Lower Loire. During the Hundred Days, he resigned his post, 

 and after the second Restoration he entered the service of the Government 

 of Louis XVIII., in the Ministry of the Interior. In 1819 he was called to 

 the Chamber of Peers, and formed one of the party of Broglie and Talley- 

 rand. After the Revolution, in 1830, he was sent as Ambassador to Turin, 

 where he remained till 1840. Among his works, the " History of the Dukes 

 of Burgundy, of the House of Valois, 1364 1477," made the most sensa- 

 tion. TR. 



