ix 



when we have not obtained a just estimate 

 of our faculties. The plans of my early 

 youth have been very incompletely exe- 

 cuted. My journey has not had all the 

 extent, which I proposed when I sailed 

 for South America; nor has it furnished 

 the number of general results which I had 

 hoped to obtain. The court of Madrid 

 had granted me in 1799 permission to 

 embark on board the galleon of Acapulco, 

 and visit the Marian and Philippine Islands, 

 after traversing the colonies of the new 

 continent. I had then purposed to go 

 back to Europe by the great Archipelago 

 of Asia, the Persian Gulf, and the way of 

 Bagdad. I shall find occasion hereafter to 

 state the reasons, which determined me to 

 hasten my return. With respect to the 

 works which Mr. Bonpland and myself 

 have published, we hope that their imper- 

 fection, of which we are conscious, will be 

 attributed neither to a want of zeal during 

 the progress of our researches, nor to pre- 

 cipitation in the publication of our labors. 

 A determined will and active perseverance 

 are not always sufficient to surmount every 

 obstacle. 



