380 A PRISONER AT SANTA MARIA. 



of December, 1821) he was sent in chains to the neigh- 

 bouring village of Santa Maria. Francia refused to see 

 him ; he was not imprisoned, but a watch was kept upon 

 him, and he was forbidden to return to Assumption. He 

 was allowed to practise as a physician, so he whiled away 

 the months and years of his captivity, in making medi- 

 cines, distilling and composing liquors, and in going 

 about to minister to the sick and afflicted. He wore onl v 

 the coarsest garments, and went barefooted. 



It was a long time before intelligence of this outrage 

 reached Europe, but it did at last, while Humboldt was 

 residing in Paris, and he left no means untried to secure 

 the release of his friend and fellow-traveller. He inter- 

 ested the French Government in his behalf, and Chateau- 

 briand, who was then Minister of the Affairs of Strangers, 

 demanded his freedom from the tyrannical Francia. It 

 was not granted. The Emperor of Brazil made the same 

 demand with the like success. At last, however, after a 

 captivity of nearly eight years, Bonpland was set at 

 liberty. What influence was powerful enough to com- 

 pel Francia to this tardy act of justice is not known, but 

 it is said to have been that of Bolivar. If so, he probably 

 owed his freedom to Humboldt. We know that Hum- 

 boldt was at this time in correspondence with Bolivar, 

 in reference to the internal improvement of his country, 

 and we cannot doubt that he urged the cause of his friend 

 with him, as he had previously done with the French 

 and Brazilian Governments. It was Humboldt, we 

 believe, who restored Bonpland to liberty. 



Ostensibly set free on the 12th of May, 1829, he took 

 the road to the Missions, but when he arrived at Itapua 

 there was no order there for his release. He remained at 



