178.
VARNHAGEN TO HUMBOLDT.
BERLIN, _September 13th, 1856_.
The great influence of the name of your Excellency in the United States,
as in America in general, is a gratifying sign of the improvement of
those countries in civilization, and a sure pledge of the ultimate
triumph of the philanthropic principles which you have consistently
advocated through the course of a long and eventful life. I thank you
heartily for the letter of M. v. Gerolt, and its printed inclosure,
which will be a valuable addition to my collections. At this moment, it
is true, the chances of Fremont are a little doubtful; nevertheless the
latest accounts represent the zeal of his supporters as very great and
by no means hopeless.
Our domestic events—domestic in their origin though the scene be laid
abroad—it would be more agreeable to pass in silence, as it is difficult
to find the proper expression with which to characterize them, and
impracticable to make use of those expressions when found. The most
consoling observation to be made is that of unanimous condemnation on
all hands, where there are no private ends to gain. For the veritable
Prussian of the good old school such things as Jade, Neufchatel, and
even Zollern, are at all times nothing but distractions, having no
legitimate concern with the core of the Prussian state. In regard to
Neufchatel, I fear that a momentary favorable nod of France is over
valued, and will lead to inextricable entanglements; Reynard[82] is apt
to incite his friends to dangerous adventures; the escape from them is
their affair, and he takes a malicious pleasure in looking on.
The other day Lady Bettina von Arnim contributed to my collections near
a thousand autographs. One of the most valuable is a letter from your
Excellency to Ludwig Achim von Arnim, on petrifactions; it is not dated,
but I refer it to the third decade of the present century.
I well know on what day I write these lines. It precedes the day more
widely and more enthusiastically celebrated than any other. May it
please your Excellency to accept the modest tribute of my warm good
wishes with kind favor! In faithful reverence and grateful devotion,
Your Excellency’s most obedient,
VARNHAGEN VON ENSE.
179.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _September 22d, 1856_.
The Grand Duke of Weimar, who has just left, commissions me to beg of
you as a particular favor, the permission for him to visit you to-morrow
(on Tuesday) between nine and eleven o’clock. He is determined to see
you in person.