Alexander von Humboldt. 13 
the duplicates at Marseilles to follow. Their object was still 
to work to the East, to India if possible. They crossed Catalo- 
nia, Valencia and Old Castile to Madrid, making on their way 
many astronomical and geographical observations, and ascer- 
tained the inclination of the needle and the intensity of the 
magnetic forces, the results of which were never published. 
Immediately on their arrival in Madrid they had reason to 
rejoice at the wind that wafted them to Spain. Baron de Forell 
the Saxon minister, himself a mineralogist, at once interested him- 
self in their behalf, thought they might obtain through the en- 
lightened minister Urquijo, permission to visit the interior of 
Spanish America. The friends hesitated not a moment to adopt 
rok abe for himself and Bonpland, one from the Secretary of 
i In 
‘ments of all kinds, might make astronomical observations, mea- 
sure heights and weigh mountains, examine the soil, explore riv- 
ers, inspect mines, and in short execute all operations deemed 
useful for the progress of the sciences, throughout the whole of 
the Spanish dominions. No passport from the Bg sales 
us 
itself, that he at last drifted into Spain, all the tougher, the wiser 
and the better for his many disappointments. The travelers pro- 
ceeded immediately to Corufia, secured e in the Sloop 
i ompanion of the monthly packet boat, and in June, 
1799, embarked their instru and im: But the 
n. However, under the protection of a friendly storm which 
obliged the English to stand out to sea, and the cover of a dark 
| “tC | . 
ria which Columbus discovered in April, 1498, and believed to 
be Paradise, whence our first parents were expelled. Thus three 
same alien courtesy to go and discover what it contained. 
[To be continued. ] 
