Humboldt'' s Travels through Spatii/h America. 275 



one for the arts and fcicnces, and the other for the hcllcs 

 Icttrcs and fine arts. The flrll public fitting was held on the 

 8th of Augiift. 



The Athenenm has already propofed the following qucf- 

 tions as the fubjefts of a prize : 



*' I. To point out tiiofe indigenous mineral and vegetable 

 fubftances which mav be capable of producing a colouring 

 principle applicable to filk, cotton, linen, hemp, woollen, 

 and paper. 



" II. To explain the procefles for cxtrafting, fixing, and 

 brightening the colours which mav be furniHicd by fimple 

 indigenous fubftances not yet known in the art of dyeing." 



The prize will be adjudged in the public fitting of Mcf- 

 fidor 24th, year 9. (July 14th, 1800.) It confilts of two 

 jnedals of the value of 300 francs each. The ordinary mem- 

 bers of the Atheneum are excluded from the competition. 



MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES. 



}lUMnor,DT's TRAVKLS TH ROUGH SPANISH AMERICA. 



The following letter from this cnterprifing philofophcr to 



Fourcroy has lately been publiflied in one of tlie French 



journals : 



" Guyara, January 25, 1800. 



*' As the yellow fever, which defolates this part of South 

 America, obliges us to make our flay here as fliort as pof- 

 fible, I fnatch this opportunilv of fending you a few lines, 

 and repeating, from the middle of the torrid zone, how much 

 my thoughts arc occupied with you and your illuftrious col- 

 leagues, among whom I met with fuch a flattering reception 

 din-ing mv la(l (lav at Paris. Since our departure from Saint 

 Croix in Tenerirte, where I defcended into the crater of the 

 volcano, the atmoipheric air being there at 0'8 of R. and 

 at 0"i9 of oxygen, I have written to you twice. I have fent 

 to Delambrc and Lalandc an extract of my artronomical 

 labours ; the longitude of fome important places ; an obfer- 

 vation of the cclipfe on the 28th ofOdtobcr laft; immcrfions 

 N n 2> uf 



