280 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



they would probably be induced to abandon the old and 

 common way, which is a disgrace to the present age, and 

 renders hideous every specimen in every museum that I 

 have as yet visited. I intended to have given three lec- 

 tures ; 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 Liverpool 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 which had never been seen in Europe. They con- 

 sidered that it would be difficult to fix a price upon speci- 

 mens which had never been bought or sold, and which 

 never were to be, as they were intended to ornament 

 my own 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 considera- 

 tions, they fixed a moderate duty, which satisfied all 

 parties. ........ 



