6.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _26th of April, 1830_.
I have just come home from Potsdam, and find your dear letter and your
present, so very agreeable to me. The “_Zinzendorf_”[5] will delight me
very, very much. He is an individual physiognomy like _Lavater_ and
_Cardanus_. The recent pietism, which _began_ to break out at Halle,
made me smile. I rejoice that you will kindly accept my “Cri de
Pétersbourg”—it is a parody recited at Court—the forced work of two
nights; an essay to flatter without self-degradation, to say how things
_should_ be. As you and your high-gifted wife, my ancient and kind
friend, rejoice in anything agreeable that happens to me, I wish to say
that the King sends me to the Emperor to attend the meeting of the
Potentates. I shall probably go with the Crown-Prince, who will meet the
Empress at Fischbach.
Yours,
A. HT.