396 APPENDIX. 



the upper portion of the Province of Maranhao, for the exploration 

 of desert regions, hitherto excluded from scientific research. As 

 in the critical position of the affairs of Government the presence of 

 a foreigner, who, under a pretext of this kind, might possibly con- 

 ceal plans for the spread of new ideas and dangerous principles 

 among the faithful subjects of this realm at a time when the temper 

 of the nation is in a condition so dangerous and so difficult to deal 

 with, it is expressly commanded by our illustrious Prince inde- 

 pendent of the fact that, by the existing laws of his Royal Highness, 

 no foreigner is allowed to enter his dominions without the express 

 permission of His Royal Highness that your Excellency shall in- 

 vestigate whether the said Baron von Humboldt or any other 

 foreigner has ever travelled through the interior provinces of this 

 kingdom, or is now travelling there, as it would be in the highest 

 degree injurious to the political interests of the Crown of Portugal 

 were such the case. It is expected, therefore, by His Royal High- 

 ness, that your Excellency will zealously and industriously bestow 

 in an affair of so much importance all the ability and penetration 

 which from your experience in the service of the Crown may be ex- 

 pected from you, and, should travellers be in the country, that your 

 Excellency will obviate the evil likely to ensue, and put a stop to 

 any such illegal investigations by arresting and imprisoning, not 

 merely foreigners, but even such Portuguese as render themselves 

 open to suspicion by travelling without a royal permit or the neces- 

 sary license from the Governor of the Province. Finally, it is de- 

 sired by His Royal Highness that your Excellency will act in this 

 respect with the most scrupulous circumspection, and communicate 

 immediately to His Royal Highness, through the medium of the 

 Chancellor of State, everything that transpires respecting this affair, 

 in order that the Prince may take whatever further measures may 

 be deemed necessary.' 



Upon the original document is inscribed in Humboldt's hand- 

 writing : 



' I desire tlicut this order may somewhere be published after my 

 death. 



'ALEXANDER HUMBOLDT. 



'March 1854.' 



Varnhagen remarks in his 'Tagebiicher,' under date of August 

 11, 1855 : ' Humboldt has lately been presented with the Grand 

 Order of Brazil, for his services as arbitrator between Brazil and 

 Venezuela, respecting the right of possession of a considerable 

 tract of country. " In former days they wanted to imprison me 

 in Rio Janeiro as a dangerous spy, and send me back to Europe : 

 the warrant that was made out for this purpose is still shown 



