101.HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
Potsdam,October 2d, 1845.
Potsdam,October 2d, 1845.
Potsdam,October 2d, 1845.
Potsdam,October 2d, 1845.
The curious little note containing the prophecy “that God would become tired of kings,” was lying for many days on my desk, awaiting my delivering it to you, in person, my dearest friend. Whenever anything worth reading falls into my hands during the late hours of my solitary study in the chateau here, I always think of you. As I have hitherto been prevented by my effortsto arrange the manner of Buelow’s discharge from calling on you, I have thought best to send you, dear friend, the little sheet, under envelope. My reason for quoting this prophecy is, the general state of public affairs, which provokes my highest indignation. Every day discloses something worse. The future looks gloomy and menacing, the greatest carelessness prevails.
I have just returned from Tegel, where the Buelows would be very happy to see you. They beg especially that you will gratify them next winter by frequent calls at their town residence.
In the “Westminster Review” a certain Dr. Cross says, the style of Kosmos is lengthened, and very indifferent; the frequent reflection on sentiment was deemed very superfluous by English savans—such a book did not contain any thing new. Then follows the denunciation of Atheism, although “creation” and the “created world” are never lost sight of in the book. And did I not, only eight months ago, in the French translation, say, in the plainest terms:—It is this necessity of things, this occult but permanent connexion, this periodical return in the progress, development of formation, phenomena, and events, which constituteNaturesubmissive to a controlling power.Physics, as the name itself implies, can only deduce the phenomena of the physical world from the properties of matter; the highest aim of experimentalscience is therefore to ascend to the existence of the laws, and progressively to generalise the same. Whatever lies beyond is no object forphysical demonstration, it belongs to another order ofmore elevatedspeculations. Immanuel Kant, one of the few philosophers whom no one has yet accused of impiety, has, with rare sagacity, indicated the limits of physical explanation in his renownedEssai sur la Théorie et la Construction des Cieux. Koenigsberg, 1755.
The conduct of the aldermen is very praiseworthy. It is a pleasure, and a miracle at the same time, to encounter such a degree of public spirit among men differing so much in intellect and culture of mind. It is hatred concentrated against the same object, but it only appears so on the outside.
I confess that I am wrong to have not yet answered so excellent a man as the author of “The Religious Poetry of the Jews in Spain.” I first wanted to read the book, and the terror of having reached the age of seventy-six years on the 14th of September, has plunged me so deeply in my “Kosmos,” that duties otherwise sacred to me have been neglected. I shall call personally on Mr. Sachs, and beg you to excuse me to him in advance; as to justifying myself, that is out of the question.
Most respectfully, yours,A. v. Humboldt.
Most respectfully, yours,A. v. Humboldt.
Most respectfully, yours,A. v. Humboldt.
Most respectfully, yours,
A. v. Humboldt.
The sketch on Hormayr, which, in a political view, stops very singularly at 1808, is very interesting. What a mass of writings! one hundred and fifty volumes.