156.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, THURSDAY NIGHT—_from the 13th to
the 14th of April, 1854_.
Receive, noble friend, my most heartfelt thanks, you and the amiable
confidant of the “demons.”[62] The King is now invisible to me, on
account of the spiritual preparations, and on Monday he goes to Potsdam
for five or six days, on account of military affairs; but a very warm
letter, written by me, will be in his hands to-morrow, at eight o’clock,
in Charlottenburg.[63] Thus we have at least done our duty faithfully. I
am fast becoming the responsible minister of the _Conservatives_; for
three days ago I asked the fourth minimum of the red bird[64] for a man
who has _conserved_ his real estate for one hundred and fifty years, for
Bouché, a gardener, an adopted son[65] from the Champagne. It is a great
joy to me that my introduction, which has only the merit of liberal
sentiment and faithfulness, has also pleased you in regard to form. As a
sign of gratitude, I send you for your collection of autographs a
document not unimportant on account of the political situation—June,
1848. The other papers, which contain the sublunar miserabilities of the
disagreement,[66] which, alas! has become public, I beg you to return
hereafter.
Everything noble is drawn down in the mud. I was compelled to write a
few lines in answer. I live in a monotonous and sad mood—_et mourant,
avant le principe_.
With old fidelity, yours,
A. V. HUMBOLDT.