1856-58.] LETTER TO M. ROULAND. 71 



The French government, however, resolved to adopt 

 his views of reform, and the Secretary of Public Instruc- 

 tion wrote the preceding letter, hoping that Agassiz 

 would accept and accomplish the complete reorganiza- 

 tion so much needed in the Museum of Natural History. 



But it was too late ; the French government had 

 twice missed its opportunity. The offer should have 

 been made in 1846, when Agassiz was in Paris, poor 

 and anxious as to his future; or even in 1853, on his 

 return from Charleston, after the serious illness which 

 endangered his life. Now, after the great success of 

 his school for girls, of the subscription to his great work 

 on the natural history of North America, with brilliant 

 prospects for the foundation of a great museum, which 

 should be entirely his own, and with the strong family 

 ties resulting from his second marriage, it was out 

 of the question for him to return to Europe and begin 

 life a third time, however attractive the offer and 

 prospect might be. 



After long and deliberate consideration, Agassiz 

 declined, in the following letter to M. Rouland : - 



A SON EXCELLENCE LE MIXISTRE BE L'INSTRUCTION PUBLIQUE 

 ET DES CULTES, a Paris. 



Monsieur le Ministre, Apres avoir passe la plus grande partie 

 de ma vie eloigne des grands centres scientifiques, je ne me serais 

 jamais attendu a recevoir Phonneur tres distingue que vous m'avez 

 fait, en m'offrant an nom de PEmpereur, la chaire de Paleontologie 

 au Museum d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris. 



Le monde entier regarde le Jardin des Plantes comme Petablisse- 

 ment le plus important qui existe pour les sciences naturelles. 

 Aussi ai-je lu votre lettre avec le plus grand plaisir, et en recevant 

 votre offre j'ai eu la preuve. bien precieuse pour moi, que je n'etais 



