26 baudin's expeditiox. 



others who patronised them was the celebrated Madamo 

 de Stael, who called William, who had praised her works 

 highly, it is scarcely necessary to say, " la ^9/^^^ grande 

 capacite de VEurope^ Had the flattering Corinne chris- 

 tened Alexander so, she w^ould not have been far from the 

 truth. 



The political aspect of Europe destroyed the plan of 

 the Egyptian journey, as it had already done the Italian 

 one, and Lord Bristol having been arrested at Milan, it 

 was given up. Another scheme, however, was soon set 

 afoot, for Humboldt now learned that the National Mu- 

 seum of France w^as preparing an expedition under the 

 command of Captain Baudin. The purpose of this expedi- 

 tion was to visit the Spanish possessions of South America, 

 from the mouth of the river Plata, to the kingdom of 

 Quito and the isthmus of Panama. It was to visit the 

 archipelago of the Pacific, explore the coasts of New 

 Holland, from Yan Dieman's Land to that of Nuyts» 

 after w^hich the vessels were to stop at Madagascar, and 

 return by the Cape of Good Hope. Humboldt had but 

 little confidence in Baudin, who had given cause of dis- 

 content to the court of Vienna when he was commis- 

 sioned to conduct to Brazil the botanist, Yan der Schott ; 

 but as he could not hope with his owm resources to make 

 a voyage of such extent, he determined to take the 

 chances of the expedition. He obtained permission to 

 embark, with his instruments, in one of the vessels 

 destined for the South Sea, reserving to himself the 

 right to leave Captain Baudin whenever he thought pro- 

 per. Michaux and Bonpland were to accompany the 

 expedition as naturalists. 



The war breaking out afresh in Italy and Germany, 



