I will come and thank you, my generous friend, for the light you have thrown on the moral and intellectual merits of Voltaire.[[42]] Your revelations are delightful; but “Duncker-Freitag,” the recruiting officer, the sentinel, and the humorously excited suspicion of what was attempted at night with Madame Denis, are and will always produce an uneasiness.
With old attachment, yours,
A. v. Ht.
Sunday.
I shall not forget Mr. Breul the merchant. Minister Buelow was very sorry that you missed him. You will be very agreeable to him and Lady Buelow any evening from half-past seven to nine o’clock.
104.
HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN
Thursday, January 15th, 1846.
Mr. Milnes, and what he may have said of the King, “who showed him no personal civilities,” interest me but little; but it will afford me great joy if my earnest intercession for Prutz be at last useful to him. This miserable trifle is the only thing that I can secure in my position. I shall die, however, in the conscientious belief, that to my last moment I never abandoned one devoted to the same principles as myself. Your approbation is highly valuable to me, my dear friend!
The “Quarterly Review” says I had a prolix style, and am never able to write one page of “vivid expression.”
With faithful attachment, yours,