\The following letters of Humboldt furnish a contribution of the
highest importance to the true, correct, and unveiled representation of
his genius and character. That they should be delivered to publicity
after his death was his desire and intent, which have found their
positive impression in the words preceding this book as its motto. Never
has he spoken out his mind more freely and sincerely, than in his
communications with Varnhagen, his old and faithful friend, whom he
esteemed and loved before all others. In him he placed an unlimited
confidence; with him he deposited those letters received by him, which
he desired to be saved for their importance, while he used to destroy
nearly all others. He presumed that Varnhagen, the junior of the two,
would survive him. Varnhagen, however, died first and transmitted the
duty-a doubly sacred one-to me, of publishing this memorable evidence of
the life, the activity, and the genius of this great man. In the
accomplishment of this charge it was a religious duty to leave every
word unchanged as written down. I would have thought it an offence to
Humboldt\s memory had I had the arrogance to make the slightest
alterations of his words. For the same reason I did not think myself
authorized to grant the request - however well-meaning it may have
been - of the publisher, that I should make such alterations, nor could
I accord the least influence to my own feelings or to personal regards.
\l\here was but one consideration to be obeyed-the eternal truth, for
an adherence to which I am responsible to Humboldt\s memory, to History
and Literature, and to the will of him who enjoined this duty upon me.\
[...] Ludmilla Assing This book is a reprint of the original published
in 1860.
