218 



next, on military business to Potsdam, for five or six 

 days ; but a very warm letter of mine will be in his 

 hands to-morrow morning, at eight o'clock, at Charlot- 

 tenburg.* Thus, we have at least faithfully performed 

 our duty. I am becoming quite the responsible 

 Minister of the Conservatives, as three days ago I asked 

 the Fourth Minimum of the Eed Birdf for a man who 

 has conserved his estate for 150 years, viz., for the 

 gardener Bouche, an adopted son J from the Champagne. 

 It gives me great pleasure that my introduction, which 

 has no other merit but that of an independent spirit 

 and truth, has pleased you, even in respect of form. 

 As a token of my gratitude, I send to you for your 

 collection of autographs, a document, which, considering 

 its date (June, 1848), is not without interest. The 

 other papers describing only the mundane miseries of 

 the quarrel|| which unfortunately has become public, I 

 beg you to return to me by-and-by. Everything that 

 is noble, is dragged down into the dust. I was obliged 

 to write some lines in reply. I am living monoto- 

 nously and gloomily et mourant, avant le principe. 

 Your old and attached friend, 



A. V. HUMBOLDT. 



I am sure to make my appearance on Monday, 

 having on a wedding garment. 



* To inform him that Savigny's Golden Wedding would be celebrated on 

 the 17th. The Golden Wedding is the fiftieth anniversary of a marriage, both 

 man and wife being alive. TR. 



f The Fourth Class of the Prussian Order of the Ked Eagle. TK. 



J Louis von Gerlach had called in the Prussian Second Chamber, Beth- 

 man-Hollweg, an adopted son of Prussia. 



To Arago's works. 



|| M. Mathieu had taken exception at its being stated on the title-page, 

 that M. Barral was appointed by the deceased as editor of his works. 



