Your most humble and obedient Servant, DE BALZAC. 84. ROBERT PEEL TO HUMBOLDT. WHITEHALL, _Sept. 4th, 1843_. DEAR BARON DE HUMBOLDT: I was much flattered by your kind attention in transmitting for my acceptance your most interesting work on Central Asia. It will be much prized by me, as well on account of its intrinsic value as a token of your personal regard and esteem. There is no privilege of official power the exercise of which gives me greater satisfaction than that of occasionally bestowing a mark of Royal favor and public gratitude on men distinguished by scientific attainments and by services rendered to the cause of knowledge. From the very limited means which Parliament has placed at the disposal of this Court, it has been my good fortune to be enabled to recognise the merit of Mr. Robert Brown. I have just conveyed to him the intimation that Her Majesty has been pleased to confer upon him for his life a pension on the Civil List of two hundred pounds per annum, in recognition of his eminent acquirements as a botanist, and of the value of his contributions to the store of botanical knowledge. Believe me, dear Baron de Humboldt, with sincere esteem, Very faithfully yours, ROBERT PEEL. 85. METTERNICH TO HUMBOLDT. VIENNA, _October, 1843_. MY DEAR BARON: You were kind enough to present me a copy of your “_Asie Centrale_.” I call it _your_ because discoveries lawfully belong to those who make them, and because it is often better to make a discovery than to become the possessor of its results. I have begun the perusal of the work, which is among those to which I look for mental relaxation, just as minds differently constituted from mine are apt to have recourse to light and futile productions. This is really the case. I often feel the necessity of some relief from my monotonous duties, and it is then that I seek fresh elements of life and vigor in works of profound learning. A book, therefore, like yours, is to me a source of the richest enjoyment. I learn, and I love to learn, and I feel no jealousy of your great erudition. What I most admire in your work is “the method.” You understand tracing a line without ever losing sight of it, and therefore you arrive safely at the end—which is not always the good fortune of those who start well enough upon the road. Please send me the volumes complete—I shall receive them with gratitude. I pray you, dear Baron, accept the assurance of my highest consideration and old attachment, METTERNICH.