I have the honor, most humbly, to inform you that the box containing the
universal siderial clock of the inventors, D. and H. V. A——, together
with your gracious orders, has duly been delivered to me. I shall do in
the matter what will be agreeable to you. The two officers, in a letter
dated Temesvar, 13th of December, gave me notice of the arrival of the
instruments, naively adding “That I should try to procure for the
inventors some military decoration from His Majesty the King ‘the
_universal physician_,’ of all arts and sciences.”
To obtain, however, such a “universal panacea,” from the “universal
physician,” the gentlemen must address his majesty a few words
themselves. The so-called universal siderial clocks had much reputation
in the middle ages; in the present state of astronomy, however, they are
never used in observatories, where the astronomer makes the calculations
himself. Such graphic inventions in that line cannot therefore be
recommended as deserving reward unless the inventors address themselves
in person to the monarch. These rules are observed even when books are
presented, which meet with no acknowledgment unless accompanied by a
letter.
Under these circumstances I hope that your Royal Highness will approve
of my writing to Lieutenant H. v. A., thanking him for his confidence,
and requesting him, for his own sake and that of his friend, to write
some letters to his majesty the King, in which he may refer to me. To
secure the delivery of the letter at Temesvar your Royal Highness will
gracefully be pleased to direct it under your seal to the ambassador,
General von Canitz. I shall have the box opened at the observatory in
the presence of Professor Encke, and charge him, as is usual in such
cases, to make a report for the private cabinet. Although the word
“_ingenious_” cannot be applied to instruments the construction of which
is not strictly original, I will nevertheless try to obtain, through my
representations, a small dose of “the universal panacea.”
In deepest devotion, I remain
Your Royal Highness’s
most humble servant,
A. V. HUMBOLDT.
75.
MONDAY, _Jan. 1st, 1844_.
I am in haste to tell you, as the Potsdam train is about starting, dear
friend, in spite of your incognito, that the King, previous to the soap
bubbling, lead melting, and to the angelic chorus in the cathedral, and
the entrance of the watchman,[36] received and enjoyed very much the
charming gift. It is a group full of grace and sweetness of composition;
it is heaven reflected in earthly love. The King instantly guessed it to
be the work of those young fairies, Bettina’s cygnets, and would like to
offer his thanks.