350 ALEXANDEB VON HUMBOLDT. 



collected. The sorting and packing have occupied a good 

 deal of time, but I trust you will on the whole be pleased with 

 the specimens. 



4 1 have entrusted seven large cases to the care of M. Luche- 

 sini. You, who know the difficulty and expense of land trans- 

 port among the Cordilleras, and are aware that, owing to the 

 war, my boxes have been widely dispersed you who know that 

 I share my collections with my valued friend and fellow- 

 traveller Bonpland, that several of my cases have been dragged 

 about for two years unopened, and that though for five years I 

 enjoyed considerable celebrity, I was furnished with no pecu- 

 niary assistance you who are aware that we brought back with 

 us 60,000 specimens of plants, of which 6,300 are new species, 

 and have experienced how difficult it is, at the same time to 

 observe, draw, and collect, especially when, in a fit of ill- 

 humour, treasures that have been laboriously carried about for 

 months are thrown away in order to lighten the packages 

 you, my dear friend, will think it no marvel that the collection 

 I send you is so limited. 



' Insignificant, however, as this collection may be as to the 

 number of the specimens, I believe it will be found of great 

 importance as regards the interests of science. With each 

 specimen I am able to give the height above the sea at 

 which it was found, together with a description of the strati- 

 fication and the position in which it lay. No former col- 

 lection of minerals has ever contained specimens from Chim- 

 borazo, Cotopaxi, or Pichincha ; and if, while you are unpacking 

 the case, you meet with much that seems to you uninteresting 

 at first sight, it will perhaps cease to be so when you come to 

 read the inscription. The cases also contain some gold medals, 

 some old Mexican statues, and a picture made in feathers. I 

 have tried to write on the labels as much of what was interest- 

 ing as possible. May I request you to share the duplicates 

 with Herr Klaproth, and to convey to that distinguished man 

 the assurance of my highest esteem. Perhaps you would also 

 be kind enough to allow these specimens to remain separate 

 for a while before incorporating them with your collection of 

 European minerals. This would be of essential service to me 

 in bringing out my works, as I have not retained a single 



