228 



Democrats, there is no help but soldiers," into its very 

 reverse. 



CLXI. 



HlJMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, VthJuly, 1854. 



On my return from the Eussian fete-day* at Sans- 

 Souci, I found your agreeable letter. As I cannot 

 refuse you anything, I enclose " Hippolytus." In 

 return, pray satisfy my curiosity. I believe I have 

 never in my life spoken to Baron Senfft von Pilsach ; 

 I might meet him in the streets, or at a party, 

 and I should not recognize him. Notwithstanding 

 all this, it is possible that I have dined with him 

 at the King's table. From what I have heard of him, 

 I do not feel attracted towards him; As I always 

 sit opposite the King, I converse aloud only with him, 

 but very freely, because I know that people will repeat 

 my sayings, fashioning them each according to his own 

 style of colouring, in a country where, besides, many a 

 hint of delicate censure is lost, owing to the utter want 

 of settled conversational language. 



The judgment of Gneisenau is certainly meant for 

 my brother. These are often but sudden ebullitions. 

 On my arrival at Jena, Schiller wrote to Korner, "that 

 I was far more intelligent and gifted than my brother ;" 

 afterwards, when he saw me every day and overwhelmed 

 me with affectionate kindness, he wrote to Korner, 

 that "I was a narrow-minded matter-of-fact person who, 

 notwithstanding all my restless activity in my branch 



* On the 7th July a grand banquet took place at Sans-Souci, in celebra- 

 tion of the birthday of the Emperor of Eussia. TR. 



