179 



light only a few days ago, and will be published in the 

 next volume of his works. I likewise inclose from 

 among those received this week a very kind letter 

 from Prince Metternich, and a very wooden and feeble 

 one from Prince Albert. Metternich has published, 

 at his own expense, a magnificent work, a description 

 of his collection of fossils at Konigswarth. He may, 

 perhaps, in this, have had some slight ulterior design 

 viz., the appointment of himself, instead of Kolowrat, 

 as President of the new Academy of Sciences. As to 

 Prince Albert I had, at his request, when he was at 

 Stolzenfels, ordered a copy of my " Kosmos " to be 

 laid in his apartment, and he had the politeness not to 

 thank me for it. Now the Black Bird* has made him 



polite, at least partly that, and partly He makes 



me speak of " revolving Seas of Light and Terraces 

 of Stars ;" a Coburg reading of my text, quite English,^ 

 from Windsor, where all is full of terraces. In 

 "Kosmos" there occurs once (p. 159) the expression 

 Star-carpet, to explain the starless spots by openings 

 in the firmament. The book on Mexican Monuments, 

 which he makes me a present of, I bought two years 

 ago. A fine illustrated edition of Lord Byron's works 

 would have been a more delicate compliment. It is 

 strange, too, that he never mentions Queen Victoria ; 

 who, perhaps, does not find my book on Nature suffi- 

 ciently Christian. You see, I judge severely when 

 Princes write. 



Please to return Metternich and Albert soon, as I 

 have not yet answered them. Wilhelm's letter, too, I 

 must beg you to let me have again by-and-by; it 



* The Prussian Order of the Black Eagle. TR. 

 f Sic. in original. TR. 



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