244 



geologist called on you ? I do not expect during 



this quite* at least obnoxious and humiliating 



year any peace, but merely the farce of 



useless diplomatical negotiations. 



(Note by Varnhagen. Infthe fourth line, " Madame de Quitzow" 

 is an evident mistake instead of " Madame de Lieven." What may 

 have been the cause of this name, which is here utterly without 

 meaning, having been brought forward, cannot be guessed.) 



(A later note ly Varnhagen. The Princess Lieven is very inti- 

 mately allied with, some even say secretly married to, M. Guizot, 

 the ex-minister. Guizot, pronounced in German fashion, easily 

 turns into the name Quitzow, a very well-known one in the 

 " March of Brandenburgh." Humboldt, always inclined to be sati- 

 rical, especially in such a case, may have here applied to her, with 

 full intent, that- nickname, which, perhaps, was already current at 

 Court. [This version is quite correct.] ) 



CLXX. 



THE PRINCESS LIEVEN TO HUMBOLDT. 



Paris, le % Janvier, 1856. 



Vous ne m'avez pas oublie'e, mon cher baron. Je 

 le sais par deux messages bienveillants que le baron 

 Brockhausen m'a ported de votre part. Je Pai bien 

 charge* de vous en temoigner ma vive reconnaissance, 

 mais je trouve mieux encore de vous la dire moi- 

 meme. Aujourd'hui je la fais servir de passeport a 

 une question que je me permets de vous adresser. 



Vous, qui savez tout, pouvez-vous vous souvenir 

 du fait suivant ? L'anne'e 1799 ou 1800 Pempereur 

 Paul imagina de proposer un combat en champ clos, 

 ou PAngleterre, la Russie, PAutriche, je ne sais pas 

 quelle puissance encore, videraient leurs different 



* These two passages are illegible in the original letter. 



