My best and most grateful compliments to Miss Ludmilla, the poetic
artist, who combines the poet and the painter.
215.
VARNHAGEN TO HUMBOLDT.
BERLIN, _July 8th, 1857_.
The two volumes of poetry kindly sent by your Excellency, no doubt
manifest considerable literary culture, and a skilful management of
language and of metre; but this would seem to exhaust the truthful
measure of their praise. The number of men of this order of talent is
very large, and where there are not further excellences they can hardly
be called otherwise than ordinary. The claims advanced on the basis of
such performances are frequently exorbitant, and such is the case in the
present instance, where not appreciation merely, but actual remuneration
is demanded. The author is not known to me, and his reputation certainly
far from extensive. That his youth has been hard, and that his present
condition is far from pleasant, is much to be deplored, but the manner
in which he seeks to better himself, by supplication to the
powerful—bestowing praise upon men of all parties and all shades of
party, without a conviction of his own,—is none the less disreputable,
as well as his letter to your Excellency, which has received the proper
epithet at your hands. In the answer with which you will honor him, the
severe expressions I have used are sure of being softened to the full
extent of what is desirable by your inexhaustible and unchangeable
humanity and goodness.
My niece, Ludmilla, thanks you from the fulness of her heart for the
friendly interests your Excellency has so kindly manifested, and which
she will never cease to count among the greatest treasures of which she
could possibly become possessed!
Yesterday we paid a visit to Madame Gaggiotti Richards, and found her,
more beautiful than ever, in the midst of her artistic occupations. The
whole family entertain the most enthusiastic veneration for you, and
this alone would make them dear to us; the personal attractions of the
beautiful artist are enchanting.
At the present day nothing literary is permitted to make its appearance,
be it ever so peaceful and inoffensive, without giving rise to
manifestation of priestcraft and zealotry. The little book could not
escape the universal fate, and the author must expect to meet with many
an offensive objurgation on this head. But she has had the good fortune
_de manger son pain blanc le premier_, she has reaped the praises of
your Excellency, and may now quietly leave the black bread of detraction
untouched!
We mean to leave for Dresden on Monday, and hope to find your Excellency
again in excellent health at the end of a few weeks!
With profound veneration and grateful devotion,
Your obedient
VARNHAGEN VON ENSE.
216.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
BERLIN, _September 16th, 1857_.
An inquiry about letters and packages of the 8th and 22d of August,
gives me the gratifying certainty of your return to monastic Berlin,
where (supplement to No. 215 of Tante Voss, Sept. 15) “God in
History”[96] is accused of rationalism and sinful Romanism on account of
a kiss extorted from M. Merle d’Aubigné, and not yet sufficiently
explained, and where (what is much more refreshing) pastor Kind boasts
of having been kissed on the shoulder by a young Italian chambermaid at
Naples, with the warmth of semi-conversion to Evangelism. As my
monotonous birth-day has already brought in more than three hundred
letters and packages, I never know anything about the dates of arrival;
but I well remember having received a letter with a black margin of the
15th of July, from your distinguished relative Adolfo de Varnhagen in
Madrid, and also a fragment of his history. I shall thank him heartily.
His history is not without interest. You know that an attempt was made
to get rid of M. von der Heydt, whose independent activity is
disagreeable to his colleagues, by the appointment of a commission of
finance in the council of state. But the man has acted with considerable
energy, and the King has adjourned the whole commission, which was the
work of Niebuhr.
With heartfelt friendship,
Yours,
A. V. H.