688 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



to the Cathedral, for I am afflicted by a pain- 

 ful lameness in my left knee. The load of 

 years begins to press upon me (I am now toil- 

 ing through my 87th year), and my sight is 

 both dim and irritable, so that, as a matter of 

 necessity, I am generally compelled to employ 

 an amanuensis. That part is now filled by a 

 niece who is to me in the place of a dear 

 daughter. 



I need not tell you that the meetings of the 

 British Association are still continued, and the 

 last session (this year at Edinburgh) only 

 ended yesterday. Let me correct a mistake. 

 I met you first at Edinburgh in 1834, the 

 year I became Canon, and again at Dublin in 

 1835. ... It is a great pleasure to me, my 

 dear friend, to see again by the vision of mem- 

 ory that fine youthful person, that benevolent 

 face, and to hear again, as it were, the cheer- 

 ful ring of the sweet and powerful voice by 

 which you made the old Scotchmen start and 

 stare, while you were bringing to life again 

 the fishes of their old red sandstone. I must 

 be content with the visions of memory and the 

 feelings they again kindle in my heart, for it 

 will never be my happiness to see your face 

 again in this world. But let me, as a Chris- 

 tian man, hope that we may meet hereafter in 



