A German letter of the Duchess of Orleans, to whom I have sent all my
writings for many years, and who is very fond of them. She writes a hand
so cabalistic to my eyes, that I beg to avail myself of your diplomatic
experience in decyphering, and to be favored with a legible copy. The
purport appears to be of a political nature. It will not be without
interest for you, and on this account I appeal all the more confidently
to your good-nature.
Your faithful friend,
A. HUMBOLDT.
139.
HELEN, DUCHESS OF ORLEANS, TO HUMBOLDT.
Your Excellency will accept my most heartfelt thanks for the token of
the remembrance, so valued by me, which you devote to the hours we
passed in times but recently gone by, which the course of events,
however, seems already to have thrust back into antediluvian periods.
I see with joyous gratitude that the conversations in my red saloon in
the Tuileries and in St. Cloud, ever present to myself, still live in
your recollection also, and thank your Excellency for this constancy of
sentiments, doubly precious at a time like this.
The kindness of my beloved cousin had already enabled me to refresh
myself by the perusal of your latest work, which is hailed as a fountain
of health by so many hearts smitten by the rude hand of fate, and minds
stunned by the wild confusion of public events; and my son has also
found nourishment in it to assuage his thirst of knowledge.
Nevertheless, I thank you most cordially for the jewel you have sent,
which receives additional value from being accompanied by your letter.
As you say, in words so mild and yet so truly appropriate, “Men are at
present laboring at a _fable convenue_; they strive in part after what
is unattainable, and in which they themselves do not believe!” But where
will the light appear that is to lead them to the truth, and what events
will yet be required to convince them of the impracticability of the
most contradictory demands? I agree with your Excellency in thinking
that the present tranquillity is destined to be of brief duration. I
also do not see in it any real pacification, but only the apathy and
indifference which enervates without convincing. Who can fathom the
future? The riddle of the coming day remains concealed—how much more
must we await in patience the developments of coming years? But courage
and resignation must not be impaired by this uncertainty; on the
contrary, our hearts should be steeled by it.
During my visit in England, the King asked many questions in regard to
the health of your Excellency; the Queen also received with great
interest such reports as I could give her. They hold in grateful
remembrance your frequent visits in Paris. My children ask to be
commended to your recollection, and I also hope to revive in it from
time to time.
With heartfelt reverence and gratitude, your Excellency’s friend and
admirer,