279 



With repeated entreaty kindly to pardon me, in 

 deepest admiration and truest devotion unchangeably 

 your Excellency's most obedient, 



VARNHAGEN VON ENSE. 



On Humboldt's attack of illness, Yarnhagen writes in his Diary, 

 on the 27th February, 1857 : " A call from M. Hermann Grimm :* 

 he comes from Humboldt's house, and has spoken to the valet 

 Seiffert :. it is not a cold, in fact not a light indisposition, that has 

 befallen Humboldt ; but a fit of apoplexy. He did not feel quite 

 well after the Court ball on Tuesday evening ; he rose in the night 

 to drink a glass of water ; he did not wish to disturb the servant ; 

 he fell. SeifFert heard the noise, and found his master lying on the 

 floor, consciousness and speech returning only after a while. Dr. 

 Schonlein gives no great hopes ; the patient did not pass the night 

 favourably. If we lose Humboldt it would be a dreadful loss. He 

 is a counterpoise to so much that is bad and mean, which after his 

 death would venture boldly forth and make itself conspicuous. 

 Honour and reputation of science are incorporated in him ; both will 

 sink if he is no more. There is no name in Germany, in Europe, 

 which is equal to his; no character in Berlin greater and more 

 acknowledged than his. Aiid how painful would his loss be to me ! 

 More than fifty years of my life are connected with his name and 

 acquaintance ; he has besides known all those who were my most 

 intimate and dearest Mends. 



On the 14th March, 1857, Varnhagen relates in his Diary : 

 " When the King was with Humboldt, Schonlein said to the latter, 

 that for some time he would not be able to stand firm on the left 

 side, upon which Humboldt replied : ' For all that, I do not mean 

 to sit on the Eight with Gerlach.' "f 



* Son of Wilhelm Grimm. TR. 



f In the Prussian House of Eepresentatives, the Ministerial party (at that 

 time ultra- conservative, now liberal) always sit on the right hand of the 

 President's chair. TR. 



