1832.] HUMBOLDT. 237 



first saw a tropical forest in all its sublime grandeur nothing 

 but the reality can give any idea how wonderful, how magnifi- 

 cent the scene is. If I was to specify any one thing I should 

 give the pre-eminence to the host of parasitical plants. Your 

 engraving is exactly true, but underrates rather than exag- 

 gerates the luxuriance. I never experienced such intense 

 delight. I formerly admired Humboldt, I now almost adore 

 him ; he alone gives any notion of the feelings which are 

 raised in the mind on first entering the Tropics. I am now 

 collecting fresh-water and land animals ; if what was told me 

 in London is true, viz. that there are no small insects in the 

 collections from the Tropics, I tell Entomologists to look out 

 and have their pens ready for describing. I have taken as 

 minute (if not more so) as in England, Hydropori, Hygroti, 

 Hydrobii, Pselaphi, Staphylini, Curculio, &c. &c. It is exceed- 

 ingly interesting observing the difference of genera and 

 species from those which I know ; it is however much less 

 than I had expected. I am at present red-hot with spiders ; 

 they are very interesting, and if I am not mistaken I have 

 already taken some new genera. I shall have a large box to 

 send very soon to Cambridge, and with that I will mention 

 some more natural history particulars. 



The Captain does everything in his power to assist me, and 

 we get on very well, but I thank my better fortune he has not 

 made me a renegade to Whig principles. I would not be a 

 Tory, if it was merely on account of their cold hearts about 

 that scandal to Christian nations Slavery. I am very good 

 friends with all the officers. 



I have just returned from a walk, and as a specimen, how 

 little the insects are known. Noterus, according to the ' Dic- 

 tionnaire Classique,' contains solely three European species. 

 I in one haul of my net took five distinct species ; is this not 

 quite extraordinary ? . . . . 



Tell Professor Sedgwick he does not know how much 

 I am indebted to him for the Welsh Expedition ; it has 



