101.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
POTSDAM, _October 2d, 1845_.
The curious little note containing the prophecy “that God would become
tired of kings,” was lying for many days on my desk, awaiting my
delivering it to you, in person, my dearest friend. Whenever anything
worth reading falls into my hands during the late hours of my solitary
study in the chateau here, I always think of you. As I have hitherto
been prevented by my efforts to arrange the manner of Buelow’s discharge
from calling on you, I have thought best to send you, dear friend, the
little sheet, under envelope. My reason for quoting this prophecy is,
the general state of public affairs, which provokes my highest
indignation. Every day discloses something worse. The future looks
gloomy and menacing, the greatest carelessness prevails.
I have just returned from Tegel, where the Buelows would be very happy
to see you. They beg especially that you will gratify them next winter
by frequent calls at their town residence.
In the “Westminster Review” a certain Dr. Cross says, the style of
Kosmos is lengthened, and very indifferent; the frequent reflection on
sentiment was deemed very superfluous by English savans—such a book did
not contain any thing new. Then follows the denunciation of Atheism,
although “creation” and the “created world” are never lost sight of in
the book. And did I not, only eight months ago, in the French
translation, say, in the plainest terms:—It is this necessity of things,
this occult but permanent connexion, this periodical return in the
progress, development of formation, phenomena, and events, which
constitute _Nature_ submissive to a controlling power. _Physics_, as the
name itself implies, can only deduce the phenomena of the physical world
from the properties of matter; the highest aim of experimental science
is therefore to ascend to the existence of the laws, and progressively
to generalise the same. Whatever lies beyond is no object for _physical
demonstration_, it belongs to another order of _more elevated_
speculations. Immanuel Kant, one of the few philosophers whom no one has
yet accused of impiety, has, with rare sagacity, indicated the limits of
physical explanation in his renowned _Essai sur la Théorie et la
Construction des Cieux_. Koenigsberg, 1755.
The conduct of the aldermen is very praiseworthy. It is a pleasure, and
a miracle at the same time, to encounter such a degree of public spirit
among men differing so much in intellect and culture of mind. It is
hatred concentrated against the same object, but it only appears so on
the outside.
I confess that I am wrong to have not yet answered so excellent a man as
the author of “The Religious Poetry of the Jews in Spain.” I first
wanted to read the book, and the terror of having reached the age of
seventy-six years on the 14th of September, has plunged me so deeply in
my “Kosmos,” that duties otherwise sacred to me have been neglected. I
shall call personally on Mr. Sachs, and beg you to excuse me to him in
advance; as to justifying myself, that is out of the question.
Most respectfully, yours,
A. V. HUMBOLDT.
The sketch on Hormayr, which, in a political view, stops very singularly
at 1808, is very interesting. What a mass of writings! one hundred and
fifty volumes.
102.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _October 2d, 1845_.
I would not like, my dear friend, that a friend of Thiers, whom he has
warmly recommended to me, should leave Berlin without having had the
pleasure of seeing you. Mr. Thomas, one of the editors of the “Revue des
deux Mondes,” is the author of a most remarkable work on the ancient
provincial constitutions of France, compiled from archives. I recommend
him to your indulgence.
Yours, in great haste,
A. V. HUMBOLDT.
103.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _Nov. 30th, 1845_.
All gifts, tendered through a hand like yours, are of double value to
me, my dear friend. I have immediately replied to that high-gifted lady,
the Countess. You are quite right in saying that her beautiful poetry
evinces an admirable familiarity of the mind with the subject.
I deem it more delicate to write to Baron Hormayr rather than to his
lady. May I beg to enclose my little note, provided you approve its
form? I have long had a predilection for this liberal-minded man. His
literary activity is astounding. I shall have the pleasure of calling on
Mr. Sachs to-day. I shall also present his book to the King myself; this
is, however, a time in which no impression is permanent. All things
dissolve into mere visions, which will, however, reappear, ominous and
deformed, by being joined to old fancies. I am much afraid of the
consequence produced by incentives, from which I had hoped to produce
happier results. How has it happened that Kosmos is so popular beyond
expectation? It seems to me that it must be attributed to the
imagination of the reader, which invests it with additional features, or
to the pliability of our (German) language which renders it so easy to
describe every object intelligibly, and to picture it in words.
I will come and thank you, my generous friend, for the light you have
thrown on the moral and intellectual merits of Voltaire.[42] Your
revelations are delightful; but “Duncker-Freitag,” the recruiting
officer, the sentinel, and the humorously excited suspicion of what was
attempted at night with Madame Denis, are and will always produce an
uneasiness.
With old attachment, yours,