Note 103 — 223. HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
Friedrich Kapp translation
“Close your lips and set your teeth.” In the “Anglaises pours rire” there is a squib which says, “Ouvrez la bouche et serrez les dents et vous parlerez anglais!” Open your mouth and set your teeth, and you will speak English. Humboldt may have had this in his mind and have converted ouvrez into fermez by mistake.
Froebel says in page 35: “After all, the German and the English are but two different dialects, or rather stages of development. The English occupies the higher grade, for it is acknowledged that the attrition of grammatical form corresponds to a higher mental development.” Opposite this passage Humboldt writes “Ah!”
On p. 88, Froebel alludes to the great mission of Austria in the future. Similar passages were to be found in a pamphlet of his, which appeared in 1848; they were pointed out to Prince Windischgraetz by an aide-de-camp, just in time to procure his pardon, while his colleague, Robert Blum, was brutally shot.