6 



PREFACE. 



sure given place to those occupied with descriptions 

 of nature, physical or moral, — and the phenomena 

 of the material world now afford entertainment to 

 many who in former times would have sought for it 

 at a different source. Romantic incidents, perilous 

 adventures, the struggles of conflicting armies, and 

 vivid delineations of national manners and individ- 

 ual character, naturally excite a lively interest in 

 every bosom, whatever may be the age or sex ; but, 

 surely, the great facts of creative power and wis- 

 dom, as exhibited in regions of the globe of which 

 they have no personal knowledge, are not less cal- 

 culated to fix the attention of all reflecting minds. 

 The magnificent vegetation of the tropical regions, 

 displaying forests of gigantic trees, interspersed with 

 the varied foliage of innumerable shrubs, and adorned 

 with festoons of climbing and odoriferous plants ; 

 the elevated table-lands of the Andes, crowned by 

 volcanic cones whose summits shoot high into the 

 region of perennial snow ; the earthquakes that have 

 desolated populous and fertile countries ; the vast 

 expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, with its circling cur- 

 rents ; and the varied aspect of the heavens in those 

 distant lands, — are subjects suited to the taste of 

 every individual who is capable of contemplating the 

 wonderful machinery of the universe. 



It is unnecessary here to present an analysis of 

 the labours of the illustrious philosopher whose foot- 

 steps are traced in this volume. Suffice it to observe, 

 that some notices respecting his early life introduce 

 the reader to an acquaintance with his character and 

 motives, as the adventurous traveller, who, crossing 



