SOUTH AMERIGA. 



155 



to make valuable additions to the stock of general 

 knowledge.* 



To estimate the American empires by their present 

 importance in the scale of nations, without taking into 

 view what they are destined to be, at no distant day, 

 is like comparing a young giant to a full grown dwarf. 

 Aii an American, I cannot but feel a kind of pride in 

 looking forward to the lofty destinies of this new 

 world, 



"A seat where gods might dwell. 



Or wander with delight." 



The only empires that can be compared to the Bra- 

 zil, in point of magnitude, are those of China, Russia^ 

 and the United States; and although at present the 

 least in point of population, the day will come, when 



*The king of Brazil deserves high praise for the facilities offer- 

 ed to literary and scientific men, in exploring this country. Se- 

 veral of the courts of Europe, and many learned societies, have 

 sent out persons for this purpose. Mr. Swainson, F. R. S. during 

 the two last years, made extensive journeys through the provinces 

 of Pernambuco and Bahia; Mr. Freyeries, and Dr. Sellow, sent 

 out by the Prussian government, had explored the coast from 

 Bahia to Rio Janeiro, in which they had occupied eighteen months. 

 In the same expedition which brought out the princess Leopol- 

 dina, a scientific mission also arrived,^ consisting of the following 



I persons: Professor Mecken, botanistj Mr. Schott, gardener; Dr. 



j Pohl,- mineralogist; Mr. Buckberger, botanical painter; and Mr. 



i Euter, landscape painter; Mr. Nataer, zoologist, with assistants. 

 Some of them have set off for Mato Grosso. Mr. Aug. de St. 



I Hilair, a French naturalist, has explored the province of Minas, 



I and the banks of the St. Francisco. Mr. Langsdorf, the present 

 Russian minister, is engaged in studying the natural history. The 

 principality of Tuscany, has sent professor Raddi, of Florence; 



j and the king of Bavaria has sent two naturalists, Messrs. Spix 

 and Martins, who are still in the interior. 



