230 



With sincerest friendship, always equally incorrect 

 and illegible, Your most faithfully, 



A. v. HUMBOLDT. 

 Sunday Night. 



(As early as 1743, Austria offered to the Emperor 

 Charles VII., in exchange for Bavaria, a kingdom made 

 up from Alsace, Lorrain, and Tranche- Comte, which 

 were first to be conquered. See " Memoire de 

 Noailles," vol. VI.) 



CLXIL 



HUMBOLDT TO BETTINA VON ARNIM. 

 (Copy in Varnhageii's handwriting.) 



Berlin, Sth July, 1854. 



For what purpose, most gracious Baroness, has the 

 Eternal, out of that horn of plenty which he so sparingly 

 empties on our miserable sinful globe, poured out on you 

 an abundance of the richest intellectual endowments, 

 and of the still finer gifts of delicate feeling, if you credit 

 silly talk " about those from whom I withdraw myself ! " 

 What you call your prophetic visions, were not able to 

 frighten me, as such a gift of clairvoyance was bestowed 

 upon me likewise ! The King, as I hear (for I seldom 

 make my appearance there in the evening, and have 

 ceased for years to read to him myself), has not read 

 one syllable of your book, nor expressed a wish to 

 have it read to him. But, my most esteemed friend, 

 when I tell you that I never pronounce to the King 

 the words, " Cathedral- choir, opera-house, concert- 

 room ;" that I have never known even the existence of 

 such a thing as an Academical Central Cathedral* - 



* Cologne Cathedral. TR. 



