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HUMBGLDT'S CONFIDENCES TO VARNHAGEN VON. -. ' -.• .- ' ¦ • ENSE.. . ¦ • - ' ¦ 7
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lessly squandered . If the two powerful J \ . mericatji companies want to use their line , and are found to be their best customers , in all conscience let them have their full swing , provided they give a fair and remunerating- price j and if they exact good faith and reciprocity in return , let them be met frankly and fairly , We would even venture to suggest that the American * parties who appear to have been the £ rst promoters , if not the originators of the Canadian Kaihvay , should again be offered a share in its management . Their local experience , and the powerful interest they have in sending their business through . Canada , afford the strongest guarantees of their usefulness . Better far do this , assuming our information to be correct , than , continue a policy which must eventuate in the construction of a competing line across the Canadian peninsula , for which a charter has been granted by the provincial legislature .
The effect of constructing this projected pai-allel railway may the "better be judged of when it is stated that it will be thirty miles shorter and have far easier gradients . It will also be of the narrow guage—the same as the American lines , and thtis save the cost and delay of transhipment at each terminus . Its cost ; unencumbered by sww-payihg branches , it is affirmed , will be so comparatively small , that the money can be raised upon a simple agreement on the part of the two powerful American companies to lease the new line at the inconsiderable sum of £ 120 , 000 a-yeaf . We say inconsiderable , because it is only about six percent , of the gross average earnings of these companies for the last few years . Let this alternative be forced upon the Americans , and it must be seen , at a glance , that the Great Western share capital , if not also the bonded , must be
Speedily annihilated . "' We have not alluded : to the circumstances which knocked the Great Western of Canada out of the Grand Trunk Chain , This was the result , we believe , of bad faith on the , part of the Canadian Governmentj which controlled the location of the latter railway , and made its western extension to London and Sarnia independent of the Great Western , contrary to an express understanding . Our remarks , if they serve no other purpose , will , we trust , have the effect of pointing out the necessity there exists for greater
vigilance on the part of those who have invested largely in colonial and foreign undertakings , whether managed by Englishirien or not . Nothing , perhaps , would have a move salutary effect upon the administi-ation of such property than the bringing to bear with full force the criticisms of the independent press of this country . Colonial and foreign papers , and especially American , are but little read * here , and their statements are still less heeded ; whilst those home journals specially devoted to railways seldom take the trouble to go bej'ond official statements for their information .
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30 $ The Leader and Saturday Analyst . [ March 31 , ¦ 1 . 86 ft .
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well-meaning men amongst them , but they did not hold fast to their principles , and soon became no better than their predecessors ; often they degenerated into something worse , greater rascals . No Government up to the present hns kept faith with the people , none have made their selfishness subordinate to tho common weal . Till the rulers can do this no power will be stable in France : the nation has been-constantly deceived , and will be deceived again , — then again it will"fcunish the lulsehood and the deceit , for it is strong enough and ripe enough to do that . " ¦ . '' 11 th May , 1836 .
From Varniiagen ' s Diary : —¦ " . Humboldt remarked to GUns , after the Revolution of July , Believe me , my friend , my wishes are as ardent as yours for the success of the new Government , . but my hopes are very faint . These forty years past ! have seen the rulers in Paris come and go , ever falling by their own incapacity , fresh promises succeed each other never -to be fulfilled , and the same road to destruction is trodden again and again . I have ^ been intimate with most men of the day , and in some of them I confided j there were excellent and
* ' Early this morning Alexander von Humboldx came to see me , and stayed an hour and-a-ha , lf . The chief subject of our conversation was the French princes , who have just arrived . The king is in a considerable dilemma ; he would gladly show them every attention , bub \ vould make it uppear at St . Petersburg that every attention was a rudeness . The minister Anoxi ^ lon , did not venture to acquaint the crown prince with the certainty of their corning , but left him . to obtain a chance knowledge of it . Our princes became much excited about it , nnd cursed the unwelcome visit , ; the princesses Augusta . andMAiiX , who spoke favourably of it , were sharply rebuked . It was said an uproar would occur on their appeuratxeo at the piny ; sorno would cheer , but moro , it was to bo hoped , would made
hiss . At Trier a demonstration of this kind has already been , Nevertheless our princes , m spite of their annoyance , will be very polite , the king ' s wishes upon this point having been too positively pronounced . The Queen of the Netherlands , who is at present hero , and who is supposed to bo . tho most inveterate , sets the example , declaring her readiness to reqoivo the strangers -into her house . Bmtli tho ambassador , M . Bresson , axid M . von Hum-3 bqkpt counselled against tho visit , but jit has taken place , an # , « sj it ¦ would , appear , at thq instigation of Prince Mettcwentcoh :, who is desirous of obtaining tho support of France in tho Oriental question , yot at the same time without displeasing Russia . He therefore pushes Prussia forward , after whose example the reception of tho French princes will be but proper and a natural consequence . It is an event of great importance , and will 1 > q of great eitcot unon tlio views arid intentions of partiqs , a fact whioh spowks for itself . Our
court , every one will think , has either forsaken the principles ifc has appeared to support hitherto , or that it is too feeble to maintain ' them , and must therefore pretend to others . Inboth cases bad ! ' * " 3 rd May , 1837 . " M- von Hxtmboi . pt was with me yesterday , and brought me the little pamphlet by the Minister Yon Kamptz , " Casds in Terminis , " of which only twenty-five copies have been printed . In this he represents the change of the French dynasty in the best light , ' and defends the Mecklenburg marriage . The marriage is still opposed . Duke Ca ~ AKi . ES of Mecklenburg * Strelitz has regularly intrigued against it , and has striven to form a party in the Mecklenburg and Prussian family , a fraternal union and pledge against all marriages with the House of Orleans ; there was , in fact , some talk of a formal protest . All this is in the most violent opposition to the express will of the Kinig . Duke ChabIiES is now really ill from annoyance and worry , not only about this affair , but others . " " May 17 th , 1837 . " The Princess Helena , gained a victory over many a rough and obstinate nature by her gentleness and her superior mind . It wasi thoroughly ridiculous to see how some persons exerted themselves to appear grave , dignified , and—silly . She goes with the greatest joy—at which I am heartily delighted :---to her new country . I could wish her to cross the Rhine with some followers less . The mother is worthy and accomplished , but shy , and other parties of her suite were better left on this side of the Rhine . Fortunately in the French ' great world there is an absence of that petty mockery and scandal which rules in Berlin and Potsdam , where for monthstogether people pick to pieces a caricature of their own dull imaginations . " ¦¦ ' ¦ ¦¦ . " August 9 th , 1838 . " HuMBOiiDT told me in the course of a lengthened visit , the news from Toplitz . The King of Prussia and the Emperor oti Russia have mutually avoided being * alone together , each fearing * awkward explanations . The Emperor on several occasions spoke contemptuously of the present system of government in France , and worse of King Louis Philippe in particular . Prince Mettebnich : was easy and cheerful , free from care for the present , but still hugged the gloomy idea that with the death of Louis Philippe a change , won Id occur , and war be inevitable . Is it , I ask , his object to impress others with the same idea ? In receivingopinions from Metxeunich , it is necessary to examine how far they tally with his own immediate interests . " . " February 24 th , 1842 . " HutaBQi / pT gives me a fine account of England . At court the greatest pomp , but the style of living simple and natural , the conversation easy , the tone altogether pleasant and goodnatured , even between ladies and gentlemen connected with opposite parties . Peel does not please him now any more than ofypre-j he looks like a Dutchman , is more conceited than ambitious , has petty views-. Lord AbjgkCeen is a taciturn block , but does not succeed by silence in making people believe that he can talk very sensibly if he pleases . Bunsen has committed the greatest . blunders ; all the world is against him , but the king more than ever lor him . The journey of the king , altogether , was an intrigue of Bunsen ' s : so say even the English . " . "April 1 st , 1846 . Bunsen has not improved in understanding ; he has advised the king to purchase California , to send missionaries thither , and so forth . He patronises the enterprise of Mrs . Helfebt and will send his own son with her , and invest twelve thousand pounds of his own ; pi'opei-ty to found a settlement by which missionaries might be encoimiged ; he withdrew , however , his offer on perceiving 1 that the = king's support was uncertain . Mrs . HEWEEoy . meanwhile , has received only ten thousand thalers from the king ; tho minister ltoTHEii has thwarted her schemes , but had to despatch two agents tox'cporb upon the state of her possessions in the East Indies . The king ' s patronage for a settlement in Texas has been sought , of course mixed up with religious interests . Humboldt wrote Bunsen a sharp letter of advice , calling xxpon hinx to warn Eiohhobn , and requesting to consider the hatred which the conduct of that man was exciting , and which fell upon the king ; he spoke to him in my presence to the same effect , fully nnd clearly . Bunsen , however , who hacl spoken zealously with-him about twohours upon Egypt , replied not a ^ yUnble to all this , but rose and went away . Humjjchydt thinks him vain enough to accept office herp . I think Humcbojldt is altogether too intimate and friendly with Bunsen 1 HumooIjDT thinks the queen has no preference for the Catholic reli g ion ; she is , on tho contrary , thoroughly Protestant , and more religiously zealous than oven the king , , whom she encourages in this direction . She would effect more if shecomprehended the mattor better . " " June 26 , 1 $ 44 . " General Leopold von Gerxacu , who is fond of his jest , took the liberty lately of venturing an attack upon Humdoldt , and said to him , ' Your Excellency doubtless goes now frequently to church . ' This wus said with / the view to qonfuso Humdoldt ? . Ho , however , instantly rqjoinod : * That is certainly a very kind inquiry of youra just now , Sou , no doubt , wish to point out how I might try to-Sush my fortuiio in tho world . ' The onnting- hypocrite vvas struck umb . Humdoldt assured mo that , but Tor luis conuoxiou with the Court , ho could not live in Borliu ; he would be banished > so greatly was he hated by the ultras and the sham pious . Every moans was adopted to sot tho king 1 against him ; in other countries of Germany he would not bo tolerated cither so soon as ho wore to lose tho protection and . halo of l » ls position . "
Humbgldt's Confidences To Varnhagen Von. -. ' -.• .- ' ¦ • Ense.. . ¦ • - ' ¦ 7
HUMBGLDT'S CONFIDENCES TO VARNHAGEN VON . - . ¦ - ¦ . - ' ¦ ENSE .. . ¦ - ' ¦
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 31, 1860, page 306, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2340/page/14/
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