Letters of Alexander von Humboldt to Varnhagen von Ense. / From 1827 to 1858. With extracts from Varnhagen's diaries, and letters of Varnhagen and others to Humboldt

by Alexander von Humboldt

III.

Episode from “The Marriage of Figaro.”

Il y manque quelque chose.

Quoi?—

Le cachet.

Don’t overlook the nice allusion, dearest friend! Your seal must help me out of nearly as great a difficulty as that of Countess Almaviva; otherwise the Prince would perceive that I have read all the flattering things which you have so ill-advisedly! said of me. Pour vous divertir, I inclose my letter. Vale.

Fr. W.

B., 23 March, 1840.

(In Humboldt’s handwriting.)—Autograph of the Prince Royal of Prussia.—The Prince offered to Prince Metternich the chair as President of the Archæological Institute at Rome. I was called upon to write a letter to Prince Metternich, which the Prince Royal wanted to inclose in his own. As it contained some praises of the Prince, he desired to have it sealed.

Humboldt.

I was honest and stupid enough not to take a copy of the letter of the King to Prince Metternich.