266 



read over one, by Sydow.* The " Spener'sche 

 Zeitung " contains every day, side by side with the 

 news from Neufchatel, and the evacuation of the 

 Danubian Principalities, a bulletin de la saute of two 

 little silkworms at the Court Gardener, Fintelmann's. 

 How everything decreases in importance ! I often 

 dated my letters from the once historical hill of Sans- 

 Souci. Now the Pfaueninsel (Peacock's Island) f 

 becomes historical by recording the domestic life of 

 two small silkworms. Thus the world changes ! It 

 is true when the Angora goats in France rendered 

 the Richelieu Ministry famous, the " Moniteur" said, 

 in the same way, " Le moral des chevres s'ameliore 

 de jour en jour." 



CLXXXIX. 



KARL ALEXANDER, GRAND DUKE OF SAXE- WEIMAR, 

 TO HUMBOLDT. 



Weimw, 29th November, 1856. 



As I fortunately have the honour of being known, 

 really known to your Excellency, I may hope that 

 you will not judge my readiness to acknowledge 

 your and Baron Varnhagen's painstakings, by the 

 length of time which has elapsed since the 3 1st ultimo, 

 when I received your letter. Let my sincere thanks 

 find here their place; the very nature of the affair itself 

 was cause of the delay : it is one that does not allow 

 of a hasty resolution, and, therefore, I write to-day, 

 partly because I do not like to appear ungrateful, and 



* Von Sydow one of the chaplains of the Prussian Court who usually 

 preaches the funeral sermons of people of rank or note buried at Berlin. The 

 well-known author of the " Report on the English System of Education. TK. 



f An islet in the Havel at Potsdam. Tr. 



