258 EXTRACTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE. 



Washington, November 7, 1865. 



Dr. Berendt, accompanied, perhaps, by an assistant, is about to proceed to 

 Central America, as an agent and under the auspices of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution in this capital, for the purpose of increasing the knowledge which we 

 already possess respecting the geography and natural history of certain unex- 

 plored parts of Guatemala and the coasts of Honduras. 



This purpose recommends itself by its intrinsic interest to the scientific world, 

 and more- especially to the government and people of that republic; and Dr. 

 Berendt has been strongly represented to me by Professor Henry, the distin- 

 guished secretary of the above institution, as being a gentleman of great attain- 

 ments in science, and of much personal merit. 



Upon these considerations, I pray you to accord to the Doctor the regard 

 which he merits, and to his enterprise the protection, aid, and facilities which 

 may be in your own power, or to procure them for him from the functionaries 

 with which you may be in correspondence. 



Dr. Berendt is a native of Germany, and a naturalized citizen of the United 

 States. 



It remains only to subscribe myself, with the highest respect, your obedient 

 servant, 



LUIS MOLINA. 



The Administrator of Trujillo, Honduras. 



Washington, November 7, 1865. 



I have been informed by the highly esteemed secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, Professor Henry, that Dr. H. Berendt, a citizen, by naturalization, of 

 the United States, has formed the design of prosecuting, under the auspices of 

 the Institution, either alone or accompanied by an assistant, an expedition 

 into certain unexplored regions of Central America, with a view to increasing 

 the amount of our present knowledge of their geography and natural history. 

 This visit, purely scientific, will embrace the departments of Peten, Vera Paz, 

 and Golfo Dulce, in Guatemala, and will terminate on the coast of Honduras. 



As far as regards the exploration of their own coasts, the people and govern- 

 ment of Honduras will find themselves especially interested in this enterprise, 

 so strongly commended, as Professor Henry well observes, to the favor of 

 the whole scientific world ; and I have therefore consigned to the worthy professor 

 the papers which he has been pleased to request of me in the name of the In- 

 stitution for the authorities of the northwest coast, recommending to them to 

 extend to Dr. Berendt all the protection, aid, and facilities in their power and 

 which may be necessary to secure success to his meritorious undertaking. I have 

 sent to him, moreover, this letter, directed to your excellency, in order that the 

 supreme government may have knowledge of the projected enterprise, and that, 

 if the opinion of its merits be as favorable as I think it will be, orders may he 

 graciously issued to the authorities of the northwest coast in conformity with 

 the objects indicated in my recommendations above referred to. 



1 should add that Professor Henry speaks of Dr. Berendt as " a gentleman 

 of great merit and of high accomplishments in point of science." 



Allow me the honor of subscribing myself, in conclusion, your cxcellency'& 

 very obedient servant, 



LUIS MOLINA. 



His Excellency Sefior Don Francisco Cruz, 



Minister of Foreign Relations of Honduras, fyx. 



