17 



so well known by the great accuracy of his 

 chemical labours, and a distinguished mineral- 

 ogist, Mr. Hergen, gave us curious details on se- 

 veral mineral substances of America. It would 

 have been useful to us, to have employed a longer 

 time in studying the productions of the countries, 

 which were to be the objects of our researches, 

 but our impatience to take advantage of the 

 permission given us by the court was too great, 

 to suffer us to delay our departure. For a year 

 past, I had experienced so many disappointments, 

 that I could scarcely persuade myself, that my 

 most ardent wishes would be at length fulfilled. 



We left Madrid about the middle of May, 

 crossed a part of Old Castile, the kingdoms of 

 Leon and Gallicia, and reached Corunna, whence 

 we were to embark for the Island of Cuba. 

 The winter having been long and tempestuous, 

 we enjoyed during the journey that mild tempe- 

 rature of the spring, which in so southern a lati- 

 tude is commonly that of March and April. The 

 snow still covered the lofty granitic tops of the 

 Guadarama ; but in the deep vallies of Gallicia, 

 which resemble the most picturesque spots of 

 Switzerland and the Tyrol, cistuses loaded with 

 flowers and arborescent heaths clothed every rock. 

 We quitted without regret the elevated plain of 

 the two Castiles, which is every where deprived 

 of vegetation, and where the severity of the win- 

 ter's cold is followed by the overwhelming heat 



vol. i. c 



