186 



affair, Eichhorn has egged on the King into a state of extraordinary 

 exasperation ; it will, however, scarcely be feasible to dismiss 

 Michelet, notwithstanding that the King wishes it, and the Minister 

 urges it." 



On 31st March, 1847, Varnhagen adds the following remarks : 

 " Humboldt, besides, told me yesterday, that the King had implicit 

 faith in Don Miguel, Don Carlos, and the downfall of the dynasty 

 of July, and hoped to be able to go to Paris, in order to compliment 

 the legitimate sovereign. Moreover, he, Humboldt, was himself 

 looked upon as a Jacobin, who had his tricolor in his pocket. I, on 

 the other hand, was considered a royalist; but the King was preju- 

 diced against me : it was inconceivable that my old friend Canitz 

 did nothing to dispel these prejudices of the King's, and that I was 

 not consulted nor intended to be employed in anything that was 

 going on now. "Wittgenstein,* also, had often spoken to Humboldt 

 in the same strain. They forget one thing, that I cannot and will 

 not, both equally positive. 



" The nobles are terribly excited ; a sudden and complete change 

 has come over them ; their pride is rising in mighty wrath. 

 The foul fiend himself could have devised no more effectual means 

 by which to exasperate the whole class, than this abortion of an 

 Upper House. 



" A dream ! I saw the King in an agony of tears, exclaiming, 

 ' Have matters come to this ? Well, I will give way ! Let every- 

 thing be made over to my brother, and may he succeed better than 

 I have done !'" 



that out of regard for the Senate, he would pardon Michelet, if he would un- 

 conditionally express his regret for what had taken place. This, however, 

 Michelet refused to do, and proposed to the Rector of the University to urge 

 upon the King that he should be allowed to retire upon a pension. As the 

 Rector declined this course, Michelet appealed to the King himself, to whom 

 he declared his inability to seek for pardon, because such a course implied 

 the acknowledgment of guilt. Hereupon the King replied that the suspension of 

 Michelet should not be removed, as the latter, instead of expressing his regret, 

 had attempted to justify himself. He was, however, permitted to continue 

 his Professorial functions. The year 1848 produced, amongst other results, 

 the abrogation of this Decree of suspension. TR. 



* Prince Wittgenstein, Minister of the Royal Household. TK. 



