MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES. 339 



c I used often to speak of you with Del Rio, who is living at 

 Mexico, and is now married. I have with me a piece of native 

 platinum, two ounces in weight, and about this size (a sketch). 

 The platina sand occurs in hyacinth, basalt, and clinkstone. 



c Write to me at Paris, under care of M. Chaptal, Ministre de 

 1'Interieur, and tell me of any geological books I ought to read, 

 and of any new ideas that Werner may have lately promulgated. 

 I do not know the address of our excellent friend Buch, but 

 please send him from me an affectionate greeting.' 



To Kunth. 



1 On board " La Favorite," off Bordeaux : 

 1 In quarantine, August 3, 1804. 



* My dear Friend, Mercifully preserved from all the dangers 

 incident to foreign travel, I have the happiness of finding 

 myself, after an absence of six years, once more on European 

 soil, and I seize an early opportunity of informing you of my 

 return, and of giving you the renewed assurance of my affec- 

 tionate regard. I am too well acquainted with the kind feelings 

 you generously entertain towards me, not to flatter myself with 

 the thought that these lines will be joyfully welcomed by you, 

 and will be received also with pleasure by the small circle of 

 friends who after my long absence may still be left to me at 

 Berlin. Fortune has never once deserted me during the great 

 expedition successfully brought to a close with my companions 

 Messrs. Bonpland and Montufar. After passing two months 

 very pleasantly in the United States, visiting Philadelphia, 

 Baltimore, and Washington, where we enjoyed the most marked 

 courtesy from Mr. Jefferson and the highest officers of the 

 Republic, we embarked for Europe, and a voyage of twenty-nine 

 days brought us from the mouth of the Delaware to the Graronne. 

 We anchored on the 1st of August, and are now in quarantine, 

 which I have reason to hope, from the respectful manner in which 

 we are treated, will not be greatly prolonged, especially as the 

 yellow fever had not yet reached North America when we set 

 sail. My collections fill thirty-five cases, which I am anxious to 

 despatch to Paris, that I may bring them before the attention of 



z 2 



