the historical narrative: the second zoology and comparative anatomy; the third, the political essay on the kingdom of New Spain; the fourth, astronomy; the fifth, physics and geology; and the sixth, the description of the new plants collected in both Americas. The editors have displayed a liberal zeal to render these works worthy of the public attention. I cannot pass over in silence the frontispiece to this itinerary. Mr. Gerard, with whom I have had the pleasure of being acquainted these fifteen years, has devoted to me some moments of his time, and I feel the value of this public testimony of his esteem and friendship. I have carefully mentioned in this work the persons, who have had the kindness to communicate to me their observations; and in this introduction I ought to express my gratitude to Messrs. Gay-Lussac, and Arago, my fellow members of the Institute, who have annexed their names to important labours, and who are endowed with that elevation of character, which is so congenial to an ardent love of the sciences. Living with them on terms of the most intimate friendship, I have had the means of consulting them daily on objects of chemistry, natural history, and several branches of the mathematics. I have already mentioned in the collection of my astronomical observations what I owe to the friendship of Mr. Arago, who, after having terminated the measure of the meridian of Spain, has been exposed to so many dangers; and who unites the talents of an astronomer with those of a geometrician and a naturalist. At the period of my return I discussed particularly with Mr. Gay-Lussac the different phenomena of meteorology and physical geology, which I had amassed in my journey. For eight years past we have usually dwelt under the same roof in France, Germany, and Italy; we have witnessed together one of the great eruptions of Vesuvius; and have joined our labours on the chemical analysis of the atmosphere, and the variations of terrestrial magnetism. I have been enabled to avail myself of the profound and ingenious views of this chemist, in correcting my ideas re specting several objects, of which I treat in the narrative of my journey. Since I left America, one of those great revolutions, which at certain periods agitate the human race, has burst forth in the Spanish colonies, and seems to prepare new destinies for a population of fourteen millions of inhabitants; spreading itself from the southern to the northern hemisphere, from the shores of Rio La Plata and Chili to the remotest part of Mexico. Deep resentments excited by colonial legis lation, and fostered by mistrustful policy, have stained with blood those countries, which had enjoyed during the last three ages what I will not call happiness, but uninterrupted peace. Already at Quito the most virtuous and enlightened citizens have perished victims of devotion to their country. While I am giving the description of regions, the remembrance of which is so dear to me, I meet at every step with places, which recall to my mind the loss of a friend. When we reflect on the great political agitations of the new world, we observe, that the Spanish Americans are by no means in so favourable a position as the inhabitants of the United States, prepared for independance by the long enjoyment of constitutional liberty. Internal dissensions are chiefly to be dreaded in regions, where civilization is but slightly rooted; and where, from the influence of climate, the forests may soon regain their empire over cleared lands, if their culture be abandoned. It is also to be apprehended, that, during a long series of years, no foreign traveller will be enabled to traverse the whole of the countries, which I have visited. This circuinstance may perhaps add to the interest of a work, that portrays the state of the greater part of the Spanish colonies at the beginning of the 19th century. I may even indulge the hope, under the influence of more soothing ideas, that this work will be thought worthy of attention, when the passions shall be hushed into peace; and when, under the influence of a new social order, those countries shall have made a rapid progress towards public welfare. If then some pages of my book are snatched |