WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 281 



However, this last expedition ended not so. It taught 

 me how hard it is to learn the grand lesson, " fpquam 

 memento rebus in arduis servare mentem." 



But my good friends in the Custom-house of Liverpool 

 were not to blame. On the contrary, they did all in their 

 power to procure balm for me instead of rue. But it 

 would not answer. 



They appointed a very civil officer to attend me to the 

 ship. While we were looking into some of the boxes, to 

 see that the specimens were properly stowed, previous to 

 their being conveyed to the king's depot, another officer 

 entered the cabin. He was an entire stranger to me, and 

 seemed wonderfully aware of his own consequence. "With- 

 out preface or apology, he thrust his head over my shoulder, 

 and said, we had no business to have opened a single box 

 without his permission. I answered, they had been opened 

 almost every day since they had come on board, and that 

 I considered there was no harm in doing so. 



He then left the cabin, and I said to myself as he went 

 out, " I suspect I shall see that man again at Philippi." 

 The boxes, ten in number, were conveyed in safety from 

 the ship to the dep6t, T then proceeded to the Custom- 

 house. The necessary forms were gone through, and 

 a proportionate duty, according to circumstances, was 

 paid. 



This done, we returned from the Custom-house to the 

 depot, accompanied by several gentlemen who wished to 

 see the collection. They expressed themselves highly 

 gratified. The boxes were closed, and nothing now re- 

 mained but to convey them to the cart, which was in 

 attendance at the door of the depot. Just as one of the 

 inferior officers was carrying a box thither, in stepped the 

 man whom I suspected I should see again at Philippi. 

 He abruptly declared himself dissatisfied with the valuar 



