289 



with the practical mining and smelting business than 

 with Geology; profound in his observation of facts; 

 cheerful and satirical, but always gracefully so ; never 

 intolerant towards those of different opinions. His 

 powers of imagination at that time did not seem to 

 be directed to religious subjects. He was generally 

 beloved, but at the same time feared; as is usually the 

 case with the feeling of intellectual superiority. His 

 political tendency was liberal. It was the time of 

 the Pillnitz meeting in our neighbourhood a time 

 and neighbourhood which favoured political expres- 

 sions. 



CCVI. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, 25th April, 1857. 



" Oracle's gate, abyss of the State archives, analo- 

 gies that lead to the bottom of the sea" this is less 

 beautiful than the last letter.* Eaffaele had several 

 styles. What surprises me is, that before the Ha- 

 noverian journey, he appears not to have seen * * * 

 out of mere curiosity. Keep the empty letter, my 

 dear Mend ! The bottom of the sea refers to a map 

 of the ocean, from Newfoundland to Ireland, which 

 I have recommended to the Grand-Duke, and which 

 he cannot procure, because it is published by Perthes 

 in the neighbouring Carthage ! ! The " Times " flat- 

 ters itself, quite seriously, that the French race will 

 die out it is true, that the pug-dogs have died out 



already. 



Yours, 

 A. v. HUMBOLDT. 



* See the next letter. TR. 



U 



