686 LOUIS AGASSTZ. 



Meantime, you shall have your share hence- 

 forth in whatever comes to me. ... I learn 

 from your son that your health is seriously 

 attacked. I was grieved to hear it. Take 

 care of yourself, my dear friend. You are 

 still needed in this world ; you have a great 

 work to accomplish, the end and aim of which 

 you alone are able to reach. You must, 

 therefore, still stand in the breach for some 

 years to come. 



Your letter, which shows me the countless 

 riches you have to offer at the Museum, puts 

 me in the frame of mind of the child who was 

 offered his choice in a toy-shop. " I choose 

 everything," he said. I could reply in the 

 same way. I choose all you offer me. Still, 

 one must be reasonable, and I will therefore 

 name, as the thing I chiefly desire, the remark- 

 able fauna dredged from the Gulf Stream. 

 Let me add, however, in order to give you 

 entire freedom, that whatever you may send 

 to the Museum will be received with sincere 

 and ardent gratitude. 



And so, farewell, my dear friend, with a 

 warm shake of the hand and the most cordial 

 regard. DESHAYES. 



The next is in answer to a letter from 



