You heard of course that after your little visit, which we enjoyed so much, I became very unwell, and my mind was only less affected than my body.  I spent a month very much out of spirits and very much tired of myself.  During the last eight or ten days I have felt much better.  My visit to our friends the Beaumonts did me a great deal of good, and I owe a grudge to the Academy for forcing me to shorten it.

I still intend to visit Germany, but the plan depends on the state of my health.  When it is bad I am inclined to give up the journey, when I am better I take it up again and look forward to it with pleasure.  On the whole I think that I shall go.  But it is impossible for me to settle my route beforehand.  Even if I were stronger it would be difficult, for such an expedition must always be uncertain.

I am not going to Germany to see any place in particular, but intend to go hither and thither wherever I can find certain documents and people.

I received yesterday a letter from our friend Ampere.  He is still in Rome, still more and more enchanted with the place, and using every argument to induce us to spend there with him the winter of 1856.  His descriptions are so attractive that we may very likely be persuaded, especially if we had any chance of meeting you there, for you are one of the people whose society always increases the happiness of life.  However, we have plenty of time for talking over this plan.

Adieu, dear Senior.

A. DE TOCQUEVILLE.

Wildbad, September 19, 1854.

You gave me great pleasure, my dear Senior, by making me acquainted with
Sir George and Lady Theresa Lewis.

I must really thank you sincerely for it, for the time passed with them has been the most agreeable part of our journey.

You have no doubt heard of the mischance which has put a stop to our peregrinations:  my wife was seized two months ago at Bonn by a violent attack of rheumatism.  The waters of Wildbad were recommended to her, and she has been taking them for more than twenty-five days without experiencing any relief.  We are promised that the effects will be felt afterwards; but these fine promises only half reassure us, and we shall set out again on our travels in very bad spirits.

Our original intention was to spend the autumn in the North of Germany, but in Madame de Tocqueville’s condition it is evident that there is nothing else to be done but to return home as fast as we can.

We are somewhat consoled by the arrival of our common friend Ampere.  He was returning from Italy, through Germany, and, hearing of our misfortune, he has come to look after us in these wild mountains of the Black Forest amidst which Wildbad is situated.  He has been with us a week, and I hope that he will accompany us home.

Our intention is to spend a month or six weeks with my father near Compiegne.  Towards the first week in November we shall establish ourselves in Paris for the winter.  We hope to see you there at the end of this year or the beginning of next.