Chapter III: Episode from “The Marriage of Figaro.”

Il y manque quelque chose.

Quoi?—

Le cachet.

Don’t overlook the nice allusion, dearest friend! Your seal must help me out of nearly as great a difficulty as that of Countess Almaviva; otherwise the Prince would perceive that I have read all the flattering things which you have so ill-advisedly! said of me. _Pour vous divertir_, I inclose my letter. _Vale._

FR. W.

B., _23 March, 1840_.

(_In Humboldt’s handwriting._)—Autograph of the Prince Royal of Prussia.—The Prince offered to Prince Metternich the chair as President of the Archæological Institute at Rome. I was called upon to write a letter to Prince Metternich, which the Prince Royal wanted to inclose in his own. As it contained some praises of the Prince, he desired to have it sealed.

HUMBOLDT.

I was honest and stupid enough not to take a copy of the letter of the King to Prince Metternich.