R. H. SCHOMBURGK. 21 



having presented itself, through Consul Kustaer, he 

 availed himself of it, and became supercargo of a 

 flock of Merino sheep, ■which were sent to the United 

 States on speculation ; and shortly after his arrival 

 received an appointment in a counting-house in "Vir- 

 ginia. In that country, Nature displaying some 

 of the richness and luxuriance of the tropics, did 

 not fail to exercise more influence than the coun- 

 ter and numbers; and it will yet be in the re- 

 membrance of many of Richmond's inhabitants, 

 that, loaded with plants, he often hurried through 

 the streets to escape attention, and secure his trea- 

 sures before his employer should demand his ser- 

 vices. In November 1829 he again changed his 

 residence and embarked from New York for St. 

 Thomas's ; before leaving the United States he had 

 entered into commercial speculations which were 

 continued some time after his arrival in St. Thomas, 

 but as might have been expected, they only brought 

 him severe losses. During the unfortunate fire 

 which broke out in the town of St. Thomas in De- 

 cember 1830, he lost not only all the books and 

 vouchers connected with his commercial enter- 

 prises, but his personal property and library were 

 nearly entirely consumed. This confirmed his dis- 

 like for a commercial life, and from the period of 

 this event he may be considered as devoting him- 

 self exclusively to the study of botany and natural 

 history. 



Schomburgk, with more leisure at command, now 

 visited Puerto Rico and many of the neighbouring 



