Chap. XXV.—B. P.] 
DR. SEEMANN. 
433 
Central America brings my Mosquito “Dottings ” to 
a close. My reminiscences have necessarily been of a 
mixed nature. I have had to bear disappointment at 
the failure of hopes and plans, all the more bitter from 
the unqualified approval with which they have been 
received, and the abundant proof I have obtained of 
how easily my proposals could have been carried out; 
nevertheless, I shall ever retain the liveliest interest 
in the progress of the country and the welfare of its 
people, and still cling to the hope that I may yet see 
the seed I have sown bearing fruit abundantly. 
In the preceding pages I have endeavoured, while 
discussing the Mosquito Coast, not to neglect its poli¬ 
tical history, commonly called the Mosquito Question, 
to which indeed I have rather given a prominence, as 
the matter is well worthy of study in connection with 
the present aspect of American relationship towards 
this country. 
I have now only to add a few words in connection 
with the authorship of this book. On finishing his 
part of it, at page 208, Dr. Seemann pays me the com¬ 
pliment of saying that he has embodied whole pages 
of my notes in his text. I can truly say that he has 
dressed them up so gracefully, that out of their ori¬ 
ginal homely garb their author can scarcely recognize 
them. Dr. Seemann was welcome to make any use 
he pleased of my notes, but I fear it was scarcely wise 
on my part to accept his invitation to joint author¬ 
ship ; and it requires, I can assure the reader, no small 
amount of courage on my part to face such a position; 
I have, however, taken the plunge, and must abide the 
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