Receive, noble friend, my most heartfelt thanks, you and the amiable confidant of the “demons.”[62] The King is now invisible to me, on account of the spiritual preparations, and on Monday he goes to Potsdam for five or six days, on account of military affairs; but a very warm letter, written by me, will be in his hands to-morrow, at eight o’clock, in Charlottenburg.[63] Thus we have at least done our duty faithfully. I am fast becoming the responsible minister of the _Conservatives_; for three days ago I asked the fourth minimum of the red bird[64] for a man who has _conserved_ his real estate for one hundred and fifty years, for Bouché, a gardener, an adopted son[65] from the Champagne. It is a great joy to me that my introduction, which has only the merit of liberal sentiment and faithfulness, has also pleased you in regard to form. As a sign of gratitude, I send you for your collection of autographs a document not unimportant on account of the political situation—June, 1848. The other papers, which contain the sublunar miserabilities of the disagreement,[66] which, alas! has become public, I beg you to return hereafter. Everything noble is drawn down in the mud. I was compelled to write a few lines in answer. I live in a monotonous and sad mood—_et mourant, avant le principe_. With old fidelity, yours, A. V. HUMBOLDT. I shall certainly make my appearance on Monday in a wedding garment. 157. ARAGO TO HUMBOLDT. PARIS, _June 3d, 1848_. MY DEAR AND ILLUSTRIOUS FRIEND: My son has left for Berlin a few days ago, in the capacity of Minister Plenipotentiary. He quitted me animated with the best of sentiments, with the most decided ideas of peace and conciliation! And yet this day your Chargé d’Affaires waited upon our Minister of Foreign Affairs to represent to him the apprehensions which the mission of my son has excited in your cabinet and among the population of Berlin. This is my recompense for the efforts made since my arrival at power to maintain the accord of the two governments, in order to remove every pretext for war! Who can be made to believe that, animated with the sentiments which I publicly profess, I would have consented to entrust Emanuel with an important diplomatic mission, if he had been in discord with me, if he belonged to a hideous socialist sect, to _communism_, for, I am ashamed to say it, the accusations made have not stopped short of that? As to the rest, I appeal to the future; all such apprehensions will disappear as soon as Emanuel shall have entered upon his functions. Your Chargé d’Affaires will then regret the untimely protest addressed to M. Bastide.