22 | EXPLORATIONS FROM A. D. 1800 TO A. D. 1832. 
and the Americans and Spanish each maintained troops near the border to prevent the incur- 
sions of the opposite party. Burr’s schemes were also agitating the public mind, and probably 
increased the suspicions of the governments of both nations. 
The exploration of Red river was particularly desirable to the United States as being part of 
a proposed boundary line, with which the Spaniards were probably already well informed. 
Captain Pike, ina letter to Governor Salcedo, dated Natchitoches, August 20, 1807, says: ‘‘If the 
continuation of an amicable understanding between the two nations is an object of estimation in 
the mind of your excellency, the final demarcation of limits must be considered as the first 
great step to be taken towards its accomplishment; and to enable my government to form a 
correct idea on that subject it was requisite they should be well acquainted with the geographi- 
cal situation of the heads of the Arkansas and Red rivers, the former part of which I had 
accomplished, and could with all ease have carried the remaining part into execution (after 
. discovering my mistake of the Rio del Norte for the Red river) had I been — by the 
governor of New Mexico." 
-HUMBOLDT'S NEW SPAIN, 1811. 
The edition of this work, which I have consulted, is entitled *' Political Essay on the King- 
dom of New Spain, containing researches relative to the geography of Mexico; the extent of its surface, 
and its political division into intendencies; the physical aspect of the country; the population; the state — 
of agriculture and manufacturing and commercial industry ; the canals projected between the South 
sea and Atlantic ocean; the crown revenues ; the quantity of the precious metals which have flowed 
from Mexico into Europe and Asia since the discovery of the New Continent; and the military defence 
of New Spain. By Alexander de Humboldt; with physical sections and maps, founded on astronom- 
ical observations and trigonometrical and barometrical measurements. Translated from the original 
French by John Black. Second edition. London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, d 
Brown, and H. Colburn—1814." It is accompanied by an original map, on a scale of 120 miles 
to an inch, **of New Spain, from 16° to 38° north latitude, between the 94th and 114th meridian; 
** reduced from the large map drawn from astronomical observations at Mexico, in the year 1804, 
by Alexander de Humboldt; and comprehends the whole of the HOM contained. in the origi na 
map, except the heights of the mountains." 
This work, completed by the Baron Humboldt for the Spanish government in 1808, is almost 
a complete summary of all the explorations made by the Spaniards down to the date of its 
preparation, and is therefore of much value in showing the extent of their knowledge at that 
day. It shows that Father Escalante, in 1777, visited or gained information about Lake Tim- 
panogos, (doubtless Utah lake, which has an affluent now called by that name, and which is 
fresh, like the one described by him,) and also Lake Salado, (probably Sevier lake,) which, he 
says, receives the waters of the Rio de San Buenaventura, its western limits being unknown. 
Baron Humboldt did not entertain the idea that any large river flowed into the Pacific ocean 
from the region which now composes the Territory of Utah, as was generally represented on 
all the English maps. His work does not, however, give any positive information about the 
topography and hydrography of any portion of our present territory, which the explorations of 
our government have not replaced by more accurate results. Still, as it has formed the basis 
of many classifications of the great mountain system, and abounds in valuable enunciations of 
the true principles of hydrography and topography, no one should neglect to consult it whose 
scientific investigations extend to the country west of the Mississippi. 
