12 Alexander von Humboldt. 
in many instances duplicates and even triplicates. Most of the 
instruments he had already tested in kind in his various travels 
and explorations the past two years, and had therefore confi- 
dence in his own judgment in selecting them. 
The first o sce HR Bare itself he se gone ide 
not much to hs taste. Lord Bristol asked him to mpany 
him to Upper Egypt on an archeological exploring ‘exnaton 
of eight months. He accepted this proposal and for some 
time directed his studies in conformity with this new project; 
and though it was abandoned in consequence of the temporary 
insecurity to travelers, he found that the archeological informa- 
tion then acquired proved in Mexico to be of no inconsiderable _ 
service to him. eanwhile he had made the acquaintance in 
Paris of two young naturalists, Aimé Bonpland of La Rochelle, 
and Michaux of Versailles, who had been a appointed to the pro- — 
din, round the world by Cape Horn, skirting South America 
the La Plata to Quito and iP aakite, and thins across the Pacific 
to New Holland, Van Diemen’s Land, Madagascar (the scenes of 
his friends Paul and Virginia), and so home by the Cape of Good 
Hope. Though Humboldt had little confidence in Capt. Bau- 
din, he obtained permission to embark with all his instruments, 
reserving to himself, however, the liberty to leave the expedition 
whenever he thought roper. For several months he worked 
with an eye single to this great enterprise, with his whole heart 
and soul in it, when, on a sudden, news came that war had bro- 
ken out in sire! and Italy, and Napolean had determined 
to postpone the e mo eat in efinitely. e disappointment was 
cruel, but the knowledge he had gained was not dissipated. His 
determination now was = t quit Europe at vary by engaging in 
an rise that might tend to console 
He | ha no the — of a Swedish Consul, a = 
ed by his - vernment to carry presents to-the De oe se i Ale 
um 
tance in that part of Africa, to facilitate him in visiting the 
Atlas peg of Morocco. No mineralogist had yet exam- 
ined this lofty chain of mountains which rose to the limit of 
_ snow. He jumped at this proposal, and his friend 
npland jumped with him. The Swedis frigate was to reach 
Marseilles towards the end of October, 1798, and therefore all 
three hastened thither. Two long months they waited there, 
and no frigate came, but finally news reached them that she had 
met with accidents and could not be expected at Marseilles 
till spring. Disappointed again, almost disheartened, but not 
ee ely ad 2 ee i 
em 
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3 
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