238 PROCEEDINGS OF TUE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



plans failing, he goes to Spain with the view of exploring that country, 

 and finding perhaps some means of joining the French expedition in 

 Egypt from Spain. "While in Madrid, he is so well received at the 

 court, — a young nobleman so well instructed has access everywhere, 

 — and he receives such encouragement from persons in high positions, 

 that he turns his thoughts to an exploration of the Spanish Provinces 

 of America. He receives permission not only to visit them, but in- 

 structions are given to the officers of the colonies to receive him every- 

 where and give him all facilities, to permit him to transport his instru- 

 ments, to make astronomical and other observations, and to collect 

 whatever he chooses; and all that only in consequence of the good 

 impression he made when he appeared there, with no other recom- 

 mendation than that of a friend who happened to be at that time 

 Danish Minister to the Court of Madrid. But with these facilities 

 offered to him, he sails in June, 1799, from Corunna, whence he 

 reaches Teneriffe, makes short explorations of that island, ascending 

 the peak, and sails straightway to America, where he lands in Cu- 

 rnana in the month of July, and employs the first year and a half in 

 the exploration of the basin of the Orinoco and its connection with the 

 Amazon. This was a journey of itself, and completed a work of sci- 

 entific importance, establishing the fact that the two rivers were con- 

 nected by an uninterrupted course of water. He established for the 

 first time the fact, that there was an extensive low plain, connected by 

 water, which circled the high table-land of Guiana. It was an impor- 

 tant discovery in Physical Geography, because it changed the ideas 

 about water-courses, and about the distribution of mountains and plains, 

 in a manner which has had the most extensive influence upon the pro- 

 gress of Physical Geography. It may well be said that, after this 

 exploration of the Orinoco, Physical Geography begins to appear as a 

 part of science. From Cumana he makes a short excursion to Ha- 

 vana, and, hearing there of the probable arrival of Baudin on the west 

 coast of America, starts with the intention of ci'ossing at Panama. 

 He arrives at Carthagena, but is prevented by the advance of the 

 season fi*om crossing the Isthmus, and changes his determination from 

 want of precise information respecting Baudin's expedition. He de- 

 termines to ascend the Magdalena River and visit Santa Fe de Bogota, 

 where, for several months, he explores the construction of the moun- 

 tains, and collects plants and animals ; and, in connection with his 

 friend, Bonpland, who accompanied him from Paris, he makes those 



