xxxiii 



the configuration of the ground, the phy- 

 siognomy of the plants, and the aspect of 

 a smiling or savage nature, have great in- 

 fluence on the progress of the arts, and on 

 the style which distinguishes their produc- 

 tions ; and this influence is so much the 

 more perceptible, as man is farther removed 

 from civilization. 



I could have added to this work re- 

 searches on the character of languages, 

 which are the most durable monuments of 

 nations. I have collected a number of 

 materials on those of America, of which 

 Messrs. Frederic Schlegel and Vater have 

 made use : the first in his Considerations 

 on the Hindoos, the second in his conti- 

 nuation of the Mithridates of Adelung, in 

 the Ethnographical Magazine, and in his 

 Inquiries into the Population ot the New 

 Continent. These materials are now in 

 the hands of my brother, M. William de 

 Humboldt, who, during his journey in 

 Spain, and a long abode at Rome, formed 

 the richest collection of American vocabu 

 laries, that has ever existed. His know- 

 ledge of the ancient and modern languages 

 being very extensive, he has made some 



vol. i. d 



