I knew long ago that General Bugeaud did not speak French. I now see
that his real language is Mongol. What a Timurid proclamation of the
“armée civilisatrice.”
The essay of thy brother is one of his most perfect works as to style.
“God governs the world (p. 317); the task of history is to trace these
eternal mysterious destinies.” This is the essence of his production. I
have sometimes discussed with my brother, not to say quarrelled about
that. This result certainly is analogous to the oldest ideas of mankind,
expressed in every language. My brother’s treatise is a commentary
developing, explaining, praising, this dim perception. In the same
manner the physiologist creates so-called vital powers, in order to
explain organic phenomena, because his knowledge of physical powers,
which act in what they call lifeless nature, does not suffice to explain
the play of living organisms. Are vital powers demonstrated by this? I
know that you will be angry with me, because you divine that the
fundamental idea of this wonderful treatise is not entirely satisfactory
to me.
28.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
WEDNESDAY, _May 17th, 1837_.
You have prepared for me, my highly esteemed friend, a delightful
pleasure. I hope that these remarks upon the composition of history will
hereafter form a part of your miscellaneous writings! The mind certainly
becomes dizzy in contemplating the abundance of material which springs
copiously from every fresh source. You point out how this material may
be moulded by a man of genius. In the approaching millennium everything
will be simplified—the individual life of nations is preserved, in spite
of warlike expeditions over continents. Since the great epoch of
Columbus and Gama, who made one part, one side of this planet known to
the other, that fluctuating element, the ocean, has established the
omnipresence of one kind of civilization (that of Western Europe). Its
influence breaks through the rigid barriers of continents, and
establishes new customs, new faith, new wants of life even in the most
unorganised parts of the earth. The South Sea Islands are already
Protestant parishes;—a floating battery, a single vessel of war, changes
the fate of Chili....
Princess Helene, by her charming grace and intellectual superiority,
also yesterday made many conquests over the raw and obstinate material
which had opposed her. It was ludicrous to see how some persons tried to
appear serious, dignified, and—silly. That she leaves in good spirits
for her new country, I am much rejoiced. Would that she passed the Rhine
with less retinue! Her mother is good and refined, but of retired
habits; but some other members of her suite had better remain on this
side of the river. Fortunately, people in the great French world are
entirely free from the paltry gossip and fault-finding that rule in
Berlin and Potsdam, where they subsist for months, in thoughtlessness,
upon the self-created phantasy of a weak imagination.
I made Privy Councillor Mueller, who knows how to estimate you and your
genius, participate in my joy. But he also, as a jurist, strayed away to
the first sheet, No. 63 (Criticisms on the Provincial Law, by Goetze).
Will you not, dear friend, send me, for Mueller, the commencement of
that criticism?
Most gratefully yours,
A. V. HUMBOLDT.
29.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
MONDAY, _May 30th, 1837_.
You can, my revered friend, dispose entirely of the volume of the
Academy until I shall procure you a copy for yourself. I am particularly
pleased with the communication to the ingenious Gans. The historical
studies of Hegel will interest me particularly, because, until now I
nourished a wild prejudice against the idea that each nation
individually is bound to represent an idea. In order that the prediction
of the philosopher may be fulfilled I shall nevertheless read it
attentively, and gladly abandon my prejudice.
Yours,
A. V. HUMBOLDT.
30.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
SATURDAY, _July 1st, 1837_.
To-morrow to Tegel,[16] and on Monday I depart for the eternal
spring,[17] at which the sight of the Prince of Warsaw will not lessen
my sadness; I cannot, therefore, thank you personally. Sophie
Charlotte[18] and Hegel’s Philosophy of History will accompany me, and
both will delight me greatly. My soul rather turns to you. I shall
certainly find a torrent of ideas in that Hegel, whom his editor, Gans,
in so masterly a manner has not deprived of his great individuality; but
a man who is as I am, like an insect, inseparable from the earth and its
natural variations, feels himself uneasy and constrained at an abstract
assertion of totally unfounded facts and views on America and the Indian
world. At the same time I appreciate what is grand in the conception of
Hegel.
With you all is profound and subdued, and you possess what is wanting in
the other, unceasing grace and freshness of language.