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and found her, lovelier than ever, in the midst of her 

 artistic occupations. The whole family entertain 

 feelings of the warmest devotedness towards you, and 

 this alone would endear them to us. The personal 

 amiability of the beautiful artist is enchanting. 



Now-a-days nothing literary, let it be ever so 

 harmless and peaceful, can make its appearance here 

 without the parsonic and fanatical spirit stirring. 

 This ordeal even the little book could not escape, and 

 the fair author must still expect to meet with many a 

 disagreeable remark from this quarter. But she has 

 had the good fortune de manger son pain Uanc le pre- 

 mier. The best and most beautiful has fallen to her 

 lot by your Excellency's approval, and she can well 

 afford quietly to leave the after-ration of coarse black 

 bread alone. 



We think of starting on Monday for Dresden, and 

 hope some weeks hence, on our return, to find your 

 Excellency happy and in good health ! 



With profoundest respect and grateful devotion, 

 Yours most obediently, 



VARNHAGEN VON ENSE. 



CCXVI. 



HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. 



Berlin, IQth September, 1857. 



An inquiry as to letters and parcels from the 8th 

 to the 22nd of August, gives me, my dear friend, 

 the pleasing assurance of your return to monkish 

 Berlin, where (Supplement to No. 215 of " Aunty 

 Voss,"* 15th September) the (author of) " God in 



* The "Vossische Zeitung" is always called "Aunty Voss," "Tante Voss,* 

 and the " Spener'sohe Zeitung" Uncle Spener," Onkel Spener." TR. 



