CAUSES OF FAILURE. 
551 
Thus miserable was the end of two expeditions, 
which left their country with such high hopes, 
and bearing, as it were, the vows of mankind 
along with them. Considering that no former 
travellers were so amply provided, at once witli 
the means of fulfilling the objects of their mission 
and of averting danger from themselves, it seems 
difficult to account for so entire and disastrous a 
failure. Even in the events which actually took 
place, it seems difficult to discover any cause ade- 
quate to the production of such fatal results. It 
would seem that they can be traced only to the 
ardent zeal with which the adventurers were in- 
spired, and which was kindled at once by the 
deeply interesting nature of their mission, and by 
the consciousness of having fixed upon them the 
eyes of government, of their country, and even of 
the whole civilized world. Intent only upon ful- 
filling the high expectations formed of them, they 
seem to have overlooked those constant precau- 
tions, which are necessary in such a climate, and 
which had been so earnestly inculcated in the ex- 
cellent instructions with which they were furnish- 
ed. Even considered in itself, this high exalta- 
tion of mind, chequered by constant difficulties 
and crosses, must have led to a state of agitation 
too favourable to the feverish influence of a tro- 
pical climate. This solution seems confirmed by 
the calamity having fallen so peculiarly on the 
