NOTE BY VARNHAGEN.—As early as the year 1743, Austria offered to the
Emperor Charles VII. a kingdom not yet conquered, to be composed of
Alsace, Lorraine, and Franche Comté, in return for Bavaria. See
“Mem. de Noailles,” Tome vi.
162.
HUMBOLDT TO BETTINA VON ARNIM.
(Copied by Varnhagen.)
BERLIN, _July 8th, 1854_.
To what purpose, most gracious baroness, did the Eternal shower down
upon you, from the horn of plenty that he so sparingly opens upon this
miserable, sinful earth, the bountiful gift of genius and the more
precious adornment of a noble heart, if you believe the absurd gossip
uttered “about those from whom I am separating myself!” What you call
your prophetic vision could not alarm me, because the same double sight
has fallen to my lot! Not a syllable of your book has the King read or
desired to have read to him, as I hear from others; I rarely attend in
the evening, and have not read to him for years. But how, my honored
friend, am I to gain his ear in this matter, when I never pronounce the
words Cathedral, Orchestra, Theatre, or Concert Room, and never have
heard of the existence of a Central University Cathedral Building
Association at Bonn, or of a Board of Managers of the Berlin
Association? Such things are undoubtedly desirable; but even if those
who are now called influential would advocate them by word of mouth,
their intercession would not even receive attention; success is only to
be hoped for from an official exposé of the project, addressed
immediately to the King himself, with the autograph signature of the
managers, with specific and distinct requests. The decision rests
exclusively with the cabinet, and to be discussed there, a full and
explicit petition to the King is necessary. This is doubly important at
a time so eventful as the present, when the King never remains longer
than a few weeks at Sans Souci. Painter Rattis’ Titian, political
insinuations, and great unknown personages, are all subjects of which I
receive the first intimation from your kind letter. It will be my study
to repel the insinuations, although, on account of my well-known
opinions, these “_essais de blanchir_” will be but a feeble support.
Among the many painful impressions you so sedulously cultivate in the
midst of your glowing love of the true, the free, the noble, and the
good, it gives me great delight to direct your attention to two special
matters of gratification—your Goethe monument is a fixed fact, and the
great man’s grandson, whom I regard and esteem, has succeeded in
obtaining a recognition of the value of his services, and a less
constrained position in the Roman embassy.
With unalterable devotion and friendship,
I remain your Old Man of the Hills,
A. V. HT.
163.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _July 10th, 1854_.
Such a rough “Hind Pomeranian!”[70] direct answer, dear friend, you
could certainly not expect from me! I have no idea of the question about
the animation of pinewood at the King’s table, where everybody believes
in it as in the Persian host seen in the air at the Eichsfeld. The
“drama” of the “Kreuz Zeitung,” like everything emanating from this bad
party, sick with mental poverty, bears the stamp of cowardly malice! You
are not to be pitied, for you possess a treasure in the power of
animating recollections of the great period of 1813. I have always kept
at a respectful distance from the _Revue des Deux Mondes_, which is
edited with spirit and address. Two parties may hate the same thing
without hating it from the same motives. The present Liberals there
think themselves justified in _barking_, but not _biting_, after the
fashion of the Berlin muzzles, “because, without the rescuer[71] they
would all have been drenched in blood.” _Credat Judæus Apella!_
Your faithful,
A. V. HUMBOLDT.