EOT ANT. 



47 



of her inexhaustible fecundity, were investigated with a nice 

 and scrutinizing eye. It would seem as if, in opposition to 

 art, she has been desirous to manifest, on these mountains, 

 that she needs not the aid of the feeble arm of man, to shew 

 the extent of her vigour and magnificence. Ten years of un- 

 ceasing application, and of profound study, have been fol- 

 lowed by the acquisition of immense botanical riches, and have 

 supplied, in the mother country, the materials for the great 

 work entitled the Flora of Peru. 



Emulous of the glory and virtues of his august father, the 

 present sovereign of Spain has afforded an equal prote6lion to 

 natural history. A new expedition, commanded by Don Alex- 

 andro Malespina, reached Peru in 1790, and explored, as 

 well by sea as by land, every part of the kingdom, principally 

 with a view to accelerate the progress then making in botani- 

 cal researches f. At the same time, the best adapted means 



have 



* The results of this expedition have been highly beneficial to Peru, as well with 

 respedl to navigation, as to a more perfe£l knowledge of the political and civil state 

 of the kingdom, its agriculture, commerce, mineralogy, and, lastly, natural his- 

 tory. Don Antonio Pineda y Ramirez, coinmandant of the Spanish guards, who 

 may justly be entitled the Waller of Peru, has particularly directed his investigations 

 to lithology, tetrapodology, ornithology, ichthyology, and chemistry. Don Tadeo 

 Haencke, and Don Louis Nee, have undertaken the entire department of botany. 

 The former was tlie disciple of the celebrated Jacquin. His disquisitions on metal- 

 lurgy, mineralogy, entomology, &c. in wliich lie has united to the vivacity natural 

 to his time of life, an uncommon share of information, as well theoretical as pra6li- 

 cal, have done him infinite credit. Don Louis Nee, who possesses equal intelli- 

 gence and adliivity, although more advanced in years, Las enriched botany witli the 

 fruit of his laborious inquiries. 



In the liistorical sketch of the botany of Peru in which we are engaged, we have 



merely 



