Aimé BONPLAND (1773-1858), botanist and explorer, explored S - Lot 7

Lot 7
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Aimé BONPLAND (1773-1858), botanist and explorer, explored S - Lot 7
Aimé BONPLAND (1773-1858), botanist and explorer, explored South America from 1799 to 1804 with Humboldt. Autograph letter signed to botanist Alire Raffeneau-Delile (1778-1850), in Wilmington, North Carolina. 3 pp. ½ in-4. Washington, D.C., [June 13, 1804]. Address on back with Washington city postmark. Letter entirely transcribed. Magnificent letter written from Washington, on his return trip from South America with Humboldt, after its receipt by Jefferson. "In Quito, I learned from a French gazetteer that you had read several memoirs at the Institute: in Loxa (Chincoua country), an English paper informed me that you were treasurer of the Egyptian Army [...]". But he learns that he is in America. "Ah! how I feel, my dear Delisle, that our short stay here does not allow me to go and embrace you; we would have recalled our herborizations of Montmorency, the hospitality of good old Ste Radegonde". He wrote to her ten months ago on his arrival in Mexico, but as he seems not to have received her letter, he tells her about his meeting with Humboldt and his great voyage to America. "About a month after your departure for Egypt, Baron de Humboldt, a young scientist whose name you no doubt know, came to Paris and stayed by chance at the Hotel Boston. My herbarium introduced me to him, and we set off together with the intention of going to Egypt, but fortunate and unforeseen circumstances changed our plans, and we are now completing a journey of five years, having traversed the South of France, crossed Spain, visited the Canary Islands, traveled throughout South America, Peru, New Spain and the island of Cuba. The Baron makes this journey at his own expense, I accompany him as a friend and share with him the pains and pleasures that arise, we live together like two friends, like two brothers, what is his is mine and what is mine is his, the great harmony we have maintained over this long period of time has often made us forget the countless hardships we have experienced among the savages of the Orinoco, the Black River, the Amazon River, and on the icy peaks of the Andes. I believe that it is only in a particular expedition, small in number, where good harmony and disinterestedness reign, that travelers can endure the countless obstacles that present themselves and bring back precious collections". He expects to be back in France in three months. "I'm taking a lot of duplicates of my plants for gifts and exchanges. My plan is to make a beautiful herbarium, and I'll base it on at least five thousand different species that I've already separated from the mass and in good condition. When we left Mexico, we had 4802 descriptions. How much I feel, my dear friend, that you cannot receive here the plants that I have intended for you, but I promise to keep for you the duplicates of all those that I have [...]. Mr. Jefferson's friendship obliges us to stay here a few days longer, but not long enough to hear from you [...]". In a postscript, he adds: "If you have left your herbarium in Paris and no one is taking care of it, I offer myself to take care of it. [Alire Raffeneau-Delile had been French consul in Wilmington since 1802, and was compiling a herbarium of American plants that could be acclimatized in Europe.]
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