WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 251 



I intended to have given three lectures; one on 

 insects and serpents; one on birds; and one on 

 quadrupeds. But, as it will be shortly seen, this 

 little plan was doomed not to be unfolded to 

 public view. Illiberality blasted it in the bud. 



We had a pleasant passage across the Atlantic, 

 and arrived in the Mersey in fine trim and good 

 spirits. Great was the attention I received from 

 the commander of the Dee. He and his mate, Mr. 

 Spence, took every care of my collection. 



On our landing, the gentlemen of the Liver- 

 pool Custom-house received me as an old friend 

 and acquaintance, and obligingly offered their 

 services. 



Twice before had I landed in Liverpool, and 

 twice had I reason to admire their conduct and 

 liberality. They knew I was incapable of trying 

 to introduce anything contraband, and they were 

 aware that I never dreamed of turning to profit 

 the specimens I had procured. They considered 

 that I had left a comfortable home in quest of 

 science ; and that I had wandered into far-distant 

 climes, and gone barefooted, ill-clothed, and ill- 

 fed, through swamps and woods, to procure 

 specimens, some of wdiich had never been seen in 

 Europe. They considered that it would be diffi- 

 cult to fix a price upon specimens which had 

 never been bought or sold, and which never were 

 to be, as they were intended to ornament my OAvn 

 house. It was hard, they said, to have exposed 

 myself, for years, to danger, and then be obliged 

 to pay on returning to my native land. Under 

 these considerations, they fixed a moderate duty, 

 which satisfied ."'11 rrirties. 



