482 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



and furnish vessel and subsistence while there, 

 and four hundred dollars. 



What results would flow to science from 

 your visit to that region ! You have spoken 

 of the advantage of using our vessels when 

 they were engaged in their own work. Now 

 I offer you a vessel the motions of which you 

 will control, and the assistance of the offi- 

 cers and crew of which you will have. You 

 shall be at no expense for going and com- 

 ing, or while there, and shall choose your own 

 time. . . . 



Agassiz accepted this proposal with delight, 

 and at once made arrangements to take with 

 him a draughtsman and an assistant, in order 

 to give the expedition such a character as 

 would make it useful to science in general, as 

 well as to the special objects of the Coast Sur- 

 vey. It will be seen that Dr. Bache gladly 

 concurred in all these views. 



FROM ALEXANDER DALLAS BACHE. 



WASHINGTON, December 18, 1850. 



MY DEAR FRIEND, On the basis of our 

 former communications I have been, as the 

 time served, raising a superstructure. I have 

 arranged with Lieutenant Commander Alden 



