Francisco José de Caldas: ¿Humboldt’s avatar? Reflections on five anonymous letters published in the Diario Político de Santafé de Bogotá in 1810

Abstract

Five letters written by an anonymous European who appear to have travelled through the viceroyalty of New Granada between 1803 and 1804, and then published in the Diario Político de Santafé de Bogotá in 1810, provide valuable information on various aspects of the colonial life in Santafé and its surroundings. These letters include several inconsistencies and anachronisms and reveal an evident intention to support a favorable situation of Santafé de Bogotá after the events that opened an interregnum that preceded its independence from the Spanish crown. The identity of the author of these five letters is excessively similar to that of Alexander von Humboldt, who had circulated through the same regions two and a half years earlier, in 1801. In the absence of any historical record. supporting visits to these regions by the anonymous traveler, who identifies himself solely with the initials “L. R.”, we suggest that this hypothetical European was invented by one of the NeoGranadian editors of this journal, most probably by Francisco José de Caldas.