314 



which is called into play, seems poorly and econo- 

 mically doled out. 



What do you know, my dear friend, of M. Iwan 

 Grolowin, who with impudent and unheard-of in- 

 discretion, represents me to the public photogra- 

 phically in the most terrible " neglige de costume, 

 meme," as I have written to him yery much offended, 

 "en me dotant de deux fautes de fran^ais venaient," 

 instead of " viennent," "pourrait," instead of "pou- 

 vait." What liberties men take to make others serve 

 their turn ! I entreat you to send me back by 

 Sunday morning, when I must go to Tegel with 

 Baron Stockmar pere,* the three Curiosa, the copy 

 of Victoria, the letter of the Minister of War, and 

 " Bovira," by Golowin. 



The unsteadiness of my gait ("ma demarche") 

 increases sadly in persistence. Beware of such long 

 patience in living. Keputation increases with im- 

 becility, and the part of the "dear youthful patri- 

 arch," the worthy senior of all living savants, 

 "Vecchio della montagna," becomes a very incon- 

 venient one, even if there exists a maiden within the 

 bills of mortality, whom the senior is to establish in 

 Tegel, because the place is near Berlin; and she 

 might come to town, if informed in right time, to 

 close my eyes. In truest admiration and friendship, 



Yours, 



A. V. HUMBOLDT. 



My naughty friend Lassalle Heraclitus the 

 Obscure has been banished from Berlin, in spite of 



* Baron Stockmar, attached for many years to King Leopold of Belgium. 

 TR. 



