A workman, unknown to me, addressed me at the funeral of Benjamin
Constant: “N’est-ce pas, mon bon Monsieur, vous n’avez rien de si beau
en Prusse, mais ce sera bien plus beau quand nous enterrerons M. de la
Fayette.”
164.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _July 29th, 1854_.
In Spain, the virtuous rebels, like the virtuous order of St. John on
the Wilhelmsplatz, have raised the cry of “Long live chastity!”—“Viva el
pudor” (Isabella)! “Viva la moralidad” (disinterested Christina)! But,
will you, dear friend, think it possible (July, 1854!) that the Minister
of Public Worship and Instruction, though hitherto without success, is
also shouting “Viva el pudor!” He has quite officially demanded a royal
order for the imprisonment in the arsenal of the wanton group[73] which
so wantonly disport themselves on the bridge; all this without fear from
the press, since the new press law, promulgated by the Diet at
Frankfort, only resembles the ingenious Berlin muzzles, not yet
exhibited in the Muenchen Crystal Palace, which prevent authors from
biting only, but not from barking.
The third cry, “Viva la libertad!” has succeeded in the Peninsula, after
all, in spite of the disavowals of good society.
Your faithful
A. V. HUMBOLDT.