Ht.
Note of Varnhagen.—Unfortunately Spiker’s translation is bad in every respect.
56.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
Monday Night, May 3, 1841.
I am afraid, my dear friend, that I shall be obliged to go to Potsdam again on Thursday, and thence to Paris on the 10th or 12th. I am to send Cotta more copy before I go. Let me not be suspended so long between condemnation and indulgence. Pray send me a few words with the parcel.
Yours,
A. v. Humboldt.
57.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
Tuesday, May 4th, 1841.
My Dear Friend:—Even after deducting the kind expressions written expressly for my tranquillity, there still remains more than enough in your letter of to-day to comfort me. The penance,[[27]] therefore, which I assign you is to receive me to-morrow morning at 11 o’clock, for a few moments, to accept my thanks. The “schmeichle mich” must be a clerical error; as for me I am unconscious of it. The false use of the accusative case at p. 44, you will have to show me. It cannot be “Einsicht in den Zusammenhang?” because it is looking into. I shall expunge Mr. Spiker. I had a presentiment of the end, and would rather even omit the English as well, which, after all, is rather a praise of ignorance, than indicative of the increase of enjoyment to be derived from science.