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Bauch had died at Dresden. The next to leave was General Count 

 von der Groeben,* who was very friendly, and glad to hear I 

 could find him somebody to re-edit Schenkendorf's poems. Hum- 

 boldt full of kindness for Ludmilla and myself. Talks about the 

 King; about Schonlein, the Princess of Prussia, Doctor Lassalle, 

 whose work " The Philosophy of Heraclitus the Obscure of 

 Ephesus " he has attentively perused in three nights ; about 

 Friesen; he spoke with contempt of the " Kreuzzeitung ;" praises 

 Count von der Groeben on account of his honourable sentiments, and 

 Minister von der Heydt on account of the pertinacity with which he 

 insists on resigning his office. He has received a letter from the 

 Queen ; the King wishes to see him, therefore he is going over to 

 Charlottenburg. He is hale and in good spirits. I have read much 

 in Lassalle. The external appearance of such a great and important 

 work excites respect. It makes a singular impression upon me, 

 one after the other the props and authorities by which I have made 

 my way falling and disappearing. Every one who has grown old 

 has experienced and must bear this ; but in our times the changes 

 take place more quickly and energetically than in former periods, 

 and, in respect of these, I am more than usually sensitive. Even 

 where the contents are of no import to me where, in fact, I lose 

 nothing by them, because the objects are not immediately within 

 my sphere that experience is still somewhat painful to me. I 

 find it so now again with regard to Schleiermacher ; his book on 

 Heraclitus was hitherto the last word, the final opinion on this 

 philosopher. Even Hegel's opposing hints were not capable of 

 making away with this once-adopted view. We used to rest upon it 

 as upon a soft pillow. Now comes the new criticism, and draws it 

 unceremoniously away ! It is true Lassalle pushes another large 

 and well-filled one in its place, but the change is unpleasant. And 

 yet I am rejoiced by the never-resting labour of the mind by the 

 penetration, the erudition, the free and bold progress. 



> 



* General von der Groeben, one of the saintly ; Prussian commander in 

 Baden during the Revolution in 1848. TR. 



