The Grand Duke, whom you escaped, sends much love. He has curious
theories, probably imbibed somewhere or other (Bœotia was near to
ancient Attica), and misunderstood. There are two classes of sculptors,
the one inferior, to which Rauch inclines, and which works _inward from
without_, while the better (represented by Rietschel) works _outward
from within_. But what an exposure. Philarète Chasles in the “Journal
des Debats!” I wrote to Paris: “Vulgaire dans les idées comme dans les
formes des langage, indigne d’un litterateur du Collége de France.”
173.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _Thursday, Feb. 7th, 1856_.
As it would be impossible that you, dear friend, should not have seen
the new book by Montalembert (the friend and companion of the Abbé
Lammenais on his journey to Rome), I hope to give you a little pleasure
by offering you the King’s copy for a few days (five or six). The only
thing racy in it is the conclusion, levelled at the present state of
affairs in France, p. 284 to 298. I wish it were possible to have the
whole of it translated and published in Germany.
Most gratefully yours,
A. V. HUMBOLDT.
How is our excellent Dora doing? I had a patriarchal time yesterday
until seven o’clock, at Potsdam, at a christening of a child of a very
handsome and accomplished daughter of my Siberian waiting-man’s,
Seifert, who,[79] a traveller named Moellhausen, who, at Baron Gerolt’s
and my recommendation, accompanied the great exploring expedition of
Captain Whipple, of San Luis, San Francisco, and Panama, in the capacity
of topographer and draughtsman for the American Government. It is about
a year since the King appointed young Moellhausen custodian of the
palace library at Potsdam.
An excellent article by Laboulaye, on the domestic Institution, and the
flagitious Pierce’s extension of the outrage upon territory, hitherto
free, met my eye yesterday in the “Journal des Débats,” of the 5th of
February, I believe!
Keep the very commonplace verses “Oh, Gentle Jlm.”
174.
VARNHAGEN TO HUMBOLDT.
BERLIN, _March 14th, 1856_.
Your Excellency’s kind and precious gift come into the seclusion forced
upon me by the rude relapse of winter, brighter and more enlivening than
the sunbeams which accompany them! Receive my repeated thanks and the
assurance that I know how to appreciate every one of them, and most of
all the beneficent intention, which remember me so well, and gladden my
heart so cheerily! The pencil lines of the dying Heine are a valued
keepsake, and shall be continued to be devoutly treasured in the
envelope superscribed by your Excellency. The boon of to-day, the
significant combination of Archimedes and Franklin in reference to their
tombstones, I have also read with the warmest appreciation.
I see that you do not dread the wind or the weather, and that,
fortunately, you need not dread them, when a duty of honor is to be
performed. The present time imposes curious tasks upon us! The death of
a chief of police in a duel is probably unprecedented in the communities
of modern Europe. The summoning of a Minister of Foreign Affairs to
Paris, to attend at the close of important negotiations, with a box of
writing sand from the Mark,[80] has also a fabulous aspect. However,
Allah is great!
In the most faithful reverence and most grateful devotion, I remain
immutably
Your Excellency’s most obedient,
VARNHAGEN VON ENSE.
175.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _April 14th, 1856_.
I could not but speak, being the Nestor of Prussian mining officials,
and prone to boast of my calling. My reliance upon your _indulgence_,
dear and worthy friend, is so great, that I am emboldened to send even
_you_ a copy of these unimportant lines. Count B. deserved this praise.
Free from opinion of any kind, he is useful to the art of mining, and
still occupies himself with scientific pursuits since he has resigned
the direction.
With unshaken constancy, yours,
A. V. HUMBOLDT.
NOTE BY VARNHAGEN.—Enclosed was the address delivered at the fiftieth
anniversary of the entrance into the royal miners of his Excellency
the Actual Privy Councillor and Captain of Miners, Count Beust.
April 9th, 1856.
176.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _September 11th, 1856_.
Knowing the warm interest you take, my dear friend, in the slavery
question, and in what concerns myself, I send you the last letter of
Gerolt, which was very long in coming, but which will certainly command
your attention. Most unfortunately Buchanan will be the next President,
and not Fremont, the traveller of great acquirements, who has four times
travelled the land route to San Francisco, surveying the country over
which he passed, to whom it is owing that California did become a free
State. Do _not_ return the letter, nor the enclosure. On the heels of
this African absurdity comes another folly, of a more serious cast,
though richly fraught with ridicule, not royalistic so much as
aristocratically Bernese, and spiced with a little railroad speculation
as to whether the route by the way of Neufchatel or that by way of Chaux
de Fonds is to be preferred! And the heroic Count,[81] who executes the
coup d’état à la Napoleon, whence did he derive his inspiration? From
Berlin, while we have a minister at the Diet, whom at this day we
pretend never to have recognised. How are these things to be reconciled?
We shall have a similar fate with our three ultramarine possessions, the
Jade, the Zollern, discovered by Columbus Stillfried, and Neufchatel. I
feel for the Constantinopolitan Pourtalès, who finds himself involved in
an awkward conflict between his dynasty (the Prussian earldom) and his
official liberalism. It is fortunate that the mouth of the English
Parliament is still closed.
Your faithful
A. V. HUMBOLDT.
177.
THE PRUSSIAN MINISTER RESIDENT, VON GEROLT, TO HUMBOLDT.
NEW YORK, _August 25th, 1856_.