202 



plenty of it in the case of E-ahel ! Brothers, nieces, how ready were 

 they to ally themselves with the meanest people, in order to raise 

 their united mediocrity ahove the genial radiance of her heart and 

 mind, hy which, nevertheless, they were always glad to be enlight- 

 ened and warmed ! Humboldt's foibles are well known, he does 

 not conceal himself, he shows himself as he is : but let no one lay 

 hand on his greatness, the greatness of his mind, and the no less 

 greatness of his heart! And eighty years what a bulwark of 

 strength ! Who dare assail it ? " 



CXLYI. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, 28th January, 1852. 



Here is my little cosmic present for you, my dear 

 friend. I would not bring it myself, for fear of its 

 appearing as if I wanted such an excuse for coming. 

 Bestow a glance on pp. 1 =-25, Mars, p. 511, and the 

 concluding remarks, pp. 625 630. 



I hope I may drop in to-morrow, Thursday, at one 

 o'clock ? I am sure to call. 



With old attachment, which will never cool, 



A. v. HUMBOLDT. 



With two yellow brochures. To Yarnhagen von 

 Ense, with the sincerest respect and attachment of his 

 old friend, the Author. 



On 29th January, 1852, we read in Yamhagen's Diary : " About 

 1 o'clock, Humboldt called. He is wonderfully active for his years ! 

 He is indignant at the coup d'etat in France, the exercise of brute 

 force, the arbitrary banishments, but especially at the confiscation of 

 the Orleans property. The King at first was in high glee. He, as well 

 us the Court, thought little of the crime committed against the people 

 and their representatives; against Justice, and in violation of a 



