99.
JULES JANIN TO HUMBOLDT.
STAR HOTEL AT BONN,
SUNDAY EVENING, _August 10th, 1845_.
DEAR SIR,—I beg and entreat you to do an impossible thing for me. You
are the kindest friend of the literary men of my country, and you have
always been the most indulgent of men to me. Please listen, therefore,
to my request. I left Paris a week ago for the express purpose of
transmitting to the “Journal des Débats” a faithful record of the
journey of her Majesty the Queen of England along the banks of the
Rhine. Before leaving, I had the honor of paying my respects to the King
at Neuilly, and of securing his approval of my design. Monsieur Guizot
also strongly encouraged me by saying, that hospitality required that an
honest and conscientious writer should follow the royal party, and
faithfully chronicle these wonderful rambles, which are now interesting
and delighting the whole of Europe.
Monsieur Guizot gave me, at the same time, letters of introduction and
instructions, of which I am proud. The letters are all honorable to me,
and my instructions are worthy of the man who gave them.
Now, dear sir, assist me. What I wish is, not a presentation to his
Majesty, your King, but an admission into the royal circle. Unobserved
by all, I myself shall see everything, and thus be able to fulfil the
mission with which I have been honored.
You see that it is the imperious passion, the passion of a
feuilletonist, which actuates me. It is true I have no title. But, if
one be necessary, you can say that I am the Lieutenant-Colonel of a
Legion (militia), that I shall appear in a brilliant uniform; and
further, that it is but proper that the writers whom the King invites to
his table, and whom he so greatly honors on so momentous an occasion,
should furnish a report of its chief features, as an authority to which
future historians of the time may refer.
I am writing, dear sir, under the best auspices—under the auspices of
Mr. Meyerbeer. You will make him very happy, I am sure, and with him the
whole “Journal des Débats,” which is so much devoted to you, and, in
addition, your very humble servant, myself.
I shall await with great impatience, but with the most perfect
submission, your kind reply.
I am sure that, in any event, you will have done all that you honorably
could do, to secure me this favor.
Please accept, Monsieur le Baron, the humble homage of my devotion and
of my profound respect.