256 ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. 



facts already observed possessed a higher interest for him than 

 the search after isolated new facts; the discovery of a new 

 species interested him far less than the observation of the 

 geographical connection between animal and vegetable life, 

 whence a comprehensive view might be obtained not merely 

 as to the distribution of these forms of life over the surface 

 of the globe, but also as to the various plains of elevation 

 within which their existence is limited. 



For this purpose it was essential that no detail should be 

 neglected, and no circumstance thought too trivial to be re- 

 corded. For ' little service can be rendered to the advancement 

 of science when the observer is too deeply engrossed with the 

 grandeur of general ideas to stoop to the consideration of 

 individual facts.' By the collection of a variety of forms and 

 the observation of different phenomena, to discover the laws 

 governing their mutual relationship, and to combine the whole 

 into one grand unity this was the task in physical science 

 which Humboldt set himself to accomplish. In view of this 

 object, it seemed to him that he would best attain his purpose 

 by undertaking a journey on land, whereby he could penetrate 

 into the interior of the continent, than by prosecuting his 

 researches merely in a lengthened voyage by sea, when little 

 more than the coast of various countries could be within his 

 reach. 



In the expedition undertaken by Humboldt everything com- 

 bined to render his investigations of the highest value ; for not 

 only was he led by his good genius into those portions of our 

 globe where Nature offers to the student of comparative science 

 her grandest productions and most impressive phenomena in 

 almost prodigal profusion, but by a long course of preparation 

 he himself had been equipped for such a journey as no previous 

 traveller had been. By the most diligent application to various 

 studies he had made himself master of all the scientific know- 

 ledge of his time, and at his own cost had furnished himself 

 with the best nautical, astronomical, and scientific instruments, 

 in the use of which he was well versed. 



The published results of his travels in America surpassed, as 

 is well known, the boldest anticipations ; they filled seventeen 

 folio, nine quarto, and seven octavo volumes. It is to be 



