Privatissime.—I expressed some doubts about that hieroglyph
distinguishing the male swan from the female. The King thinks me,
however, quite “arrière” as to the changes which art-life has made in
modern education.
NOTE BY VARNHAGEN.—Bettina von Arnim had given me a delicate and
beautifully executed drawing, representing a naked girl and a naked
lad standing under a tree, in the foliage of which a nightingale is
singing, which she requested me to send anonymously to Mr. v.
Humboldt, asking him to present it also anonymously to the King as a
New Year’s present. The nakedness of the male figure might indeed
appear rather shocking, although it would have been pardonable in
one _like Bettina_, but that the King could suppose it the work of
her daughters is rather too strong, unless by this pretence he meant
to convey a rallying correction to Bettina.
On the 1st of April, 1844, Varnhagen wrote in his diary: “After a long
interruption, a visit from Humboldt at last. He told me all that
occupies his mind. He is striving to do what he can, but this is not
much, and after all, the man of seventy-four years is but a man of
seventy-four. He himself refers significantly to his advanced age. His
manifold duties are a heavy charge upon him, although he is reluctant to
abandon them. The Court and its society are to him like a tavern of
habitual resort, where one is wont to pass one’s evening, and to drink
one’s glass. The King, says he, busies himself with nothing but his
whims, and these have, for the most part, a spiritual, nay, an
ecclesiastical, tendency—worshipping, building churches, concocting
missions. He cares very little about earthly affairs. It seems
immaterial to him whether Louis Philippe’s death causes a crisis; what
may happen after Metternich’s death, or how Russia behaves with us. To
all this he is indifferent; he scarcely thinks of it. Whoever has
secured his favor and nourishes his fancies plays a sure game. Bunsen,
Radowitz, and Canitz stand highest in his favor. Stollberg comes only in
the second rank. Besides, there exists the greatest carelessness and
distraction. Rueckert had congratulated the Queen upon her recovery, in
some very beautiful stanzas. They were found delightful; but the
propriety of acknowledging such an offering by a word of thanks was
overlooked, until at last it occurred to the Queen. Rueckert was then
sent for, but had been gone some three weeks. Schelling is received
scarcely once a year by the King. Having secured him, he cares but
little for him. Steffens, too, whom he likes, is seldom invited. Reumont
belongs to the exceptions; he secures a small share of the favoritism of
Bunsen and Count Bruehl. There is much sneering at ... about his
dancing, &c. Humboldt said once, he was green, if not quite yellow,
whereupon the King answered: ‘At ... every one had that complexion.’
Bunsen has not grown much wiser: he proposed to the King to purchase
California, to send missionaries there, &c. He strongly supports the
schemes of Madame von Helfert; he had a mind to send his own son with
her, and to contribute £12,000 of his own means for the establishment of
settlements in the East Indies (!), with the view, of course, to open a
field for missionaries; he withdrew, however, his offers when he saw
that the King’s co-operation was doubtful. In the meantime Mrs. Helfert
could not obtain more than ten thousand thalers from the King. Minister
Rother succeeded in frustrating her plot; he could not help, however,
sending two agents to examine and to report on the state of the
possessions of Mrs. Helfert in the East Indies. It was also attempted to
induce the King to take part in the colonization of Texas—always in
connexion, of course, with religious interests. Humboldt had written
previously to Bunsen, in strong terms, advising him to warn Eichhorn,
and to point out to him the hatred which his actions awakened, and which
also reflected upon the King. When he met Bunsen here he expressed
himself in the same way, arguing in forcible but fruitless language.
Bunsen, who talked with him with great interest on Egypt for two hours,
did not answer a word, but rose and went away. Humboldt believes him
vain enough to accept a ministry. It seems to me that Humboldt is much
too familiar with Bunsen, and shows him too much friendship. The Queen,
says Humboldt, has no Catholic tendencies; on the contrary, she is an
arch-Protestant, and even more of a fanatic than the King himself, whom
she is constantly urging in this direction. She would have more
influence if she better understood the management of matters.
“In the evening Humboldt sent me the work: ‘Russie, Allemagne et
France,’ par M. Fournier, Paris, 1844, with a very amiable letter,
inclosing eighteen precious autographs by Arago, Metternich, Peel,
Stanley, Récamier, Balzac, Prescott, Brunel, Herschel, Bresson, Helene
d’Orleans, Duchesse de Dino, and four confidential good-humored notes of
the King. A brilliant present!”
76.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _April 1st, 1844_.
I have a mind, my noble friend, to impart some enjoyment to you to-night
by a few insignificant gifts, accompanying the horrible Ruthenic venom
beneath enclosed.[37] I know that I am personally flattered in all the
inclosed letters with the exception of that from Solingen; but this
cannot prevent my offering what may be interesting to you. You will find
the following letter from
1. Lord Stanley, the present minister, to whom I had recommended the
cousin of our Dieffenbach, the author of a highly commendable journey to
New Zealand. This traveller was implicated in the rebellion at
Frankfort, wherefore it was difficult to get him an engagement in
Germany. If travelling were still a business of mine I could not desire
a better companion.