MEMOIR 



DON FELIX D'AZARA. 



THE circumstance of not the slightest sketch of the 

 illustrious subject of our present Memoir having 

 hitherto appeared in the English tongue, affords 

 sufficient inducement for our endeavouring to pre- 

 sent a short account of his life for the gratification 

 of our readers. Other considerations, however, 

 scarcely less powerful, also influence us. Though 

 the name of Azara must be familiar to many, the 

 circumstances of his chequered and honourable his- 

 tory are known but to few. He was a Spanish 

 soldier, who, from a variety of incidents, was long 

 detained in the deepest recesses of the South Ame- 

 rican provinces ; and whilst there, actively employed 

 in the public service of his country, he most merito- 

 riously improved his singular opportunities, and, self- 

 taught, earned that reputation as a Naturalist for 

 which he is so distinguished. Some account, there- 

 fore, of his eventful life, and his interesting writings, 

 can scarcely fail to ^ieet with a welcome reception. 



