ALEXANDER VON nUMBOLDT. 131 



ieras and the native peoples of America, one volume 

 with sixty plates ; an atlas of the new continent, 

 with thirty-nine maps ; a critical examination of 

 the history of the geography of the middle ages, in 

 five volumes. The second part related largely to 

 zoology and comparative anatomy in. the new re- 

 gions ; the third part related chiefly to Mexico ; the 

 fourth part to astronomical observations, measure- 

 ment with the barometer, etc. ; the fifth part, 

 geology, and the geography of plants ; the sixth 

 part, plants in Mexico, Cuba, and South America, 

 in two volumes, with nearly one hundred and fifty 

 engravings ; two volumes more, with one hundred 

 and twenty colored plates ; seven volumes of new 

 species, with seven hundred engravings, and several 

 other books. The expense of bringing out these 

 works was enormous ; the copper-plate illustra- 

 tions cost in printing and paper alone about one 

 hundred and seventy thousand dollars. 



As the price of the volumes was about twenty- 

 seven hundred dollars, the number of purchasers 

 was comparatively limited. Humboldt had used 

 all his fortune in his journeys and in publishing 

 his books, and was now a poor man, dependent 

 upon a pension from his king. But he was the 

 pride of his nation, and beloved in France as 

 well. 



Humboldt and Guizot were like brothers, and 

 for forty years corresponded affectionately with 

 each other. Arago he held "dearest in this life." 

 His last letter to Arago, " small in size but so full 



