LAST DAYS IN MEXICO. 303 



The route from Xalapa to Perote was thrice travelled 

 over by Humboldt and Bonpland, and each time sub- 

 jected to barometric measurements, for the purposes of 

 a post road, which was afterwards constructed in that 

 locality, according to Humboldt's plans. 



The remainder of their stay in the New World was 

 destitute of incident, and may be summed up briefly. 



From Xalapa they proceeded to Vera Cruz, where the 

 yellow fever was raging. They stopped here a few 

 days when a Spanish frigate sailing for Havana, they 

 took passage in her, quitting the shores of Mexico on the 

 7th of March. They remained at Havana two months 

 attending to the packing and shipping of their various 

 collections, and then set sail for Philadelphia, which 

 they reached after a stormy passage of thirty-two days. 

 While in Philadelphia, at a public library, Humboldt 

 received intelligence which delighted him. It was in a 

 scientific publication, and to this effect : " Arrival of M. 

 de Humboldt's manuscripts at his brother's house in 

 Paris, by way of Spain." He could hardly help shout- 

 ing for joy. 



From Philadelphia they proceeded to Washington, 

 where Humboldt was introduced to Jefferson. 



They left the New World on the 9th of June, 1804. 



