I have no time to-day to write you about your charming description of your sojourn in Paris in 1810. My good sense led me at once to that page, from which I could inhale the perfume of your friendship. I have learned that I have not yet grown insensible to praise. What a magnificently anti-Scythian spirit the University of Breslau has evinced! How inventive men become under political oppression! Nothing but rope-ladders, loop-holes, disguises to get out into the open air. And when once there, how really German they are in their speculations, as to whether they have improved their position. It is with them as with the Prince—“Tell me whether I am amusing myself.” Yours, A. V. HT. We insert here an entry in Varnhagen’s diary, dated June 26, 1844, reciting two sharp repartees of Humboldt. At the Royal table at Sans Souci, some time ago, Humboldt shot two well-directed arrows from his bow. The conversation turned on some Russian ordinance, and Humboldt, in speaking of it, mentioned repeatedly the Minister of Public Instruction. “You have mistaken, sir,” said the King. “It was not the Minister of Public Instruction who acted in this matter, but the Minister of Enlightenment.” Humboldt, not in the least discountenanced, hastened to reply, “Very well, Sire; then it was not the Minister of Public Instruction, but of its opposite,” and continued his conversation in his usual way. The following anecdote is still neater: General Leopold von Gerlach, who is fond of badinage, attempted an attack upon Humboldt some time ago, saying to him, “Your Excellency frequently goes to church, ‘now-a-days,’ do you not?” He hoped to perplex him with the question. Humboldt, however, coolly replied, “Your ‘now-a-days’ is very kind of you. You allude, undoubtedly, to my adopting the only road which, at present, could lead to my promotion.” The bantering hypocrite was dumb. An entry of a later date (26th December, 1848), speaks of the animosities to which Humboldt was subjected in still stronger terms. “Humboldt has called; he remained longer than an hour. He assures me that were it not for his position at Court, he would not be suffered to remain in the country, but would be expelled, so strong is the hatred of the ultras and bigots against him. It can hardly be described; however, they endeavor to discredit him with the King. In other parts of Germany they would still less endure him, were he once divested of the prestige of his position.” 93. HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN. BERLIN, _September 19th, 1844_.