ON THE TRANSLATION OF MINERAL CONCHOLOGY. 859 



at a sum above that necessary to cover the expense of its publication. I 

 protest also, that I had not the least.intention of injuring the Editor of the 

 original edition : if I have dispatched some copies to England it has been 

 with the view of letting my scientific friends see the number of additions and 

 corrections which I have incorporated in my translation. All this proves that 

 in the present instance, as always, I have only acted from a regard to the 

 interests of science. An illustrious English geologist can, if required, re- 

 late what I said to him on this subject before I occupied myself with 

 the translation. 



This leads me to make one other remark to you. I understand, that by 

 way of reprisal, as though I had committed hostilities, there is in prepa- 

 ration a subscription to bring out a reprint of my Fossil Fishes, with an 

 English translation of the text, at 10s. a livraison instead of 30s. Permit 

 me to tell you my notions upon this subject. If the fact be true, and I am 

 to regard this act in the light of a reprisal, I must deem it most perfidious 

 and disreputable ; but if the thing be only undertaken as a matter of uti- 

 lity, I declare with the same frankness, that I shall be gratified, hoping 

 thus to see my work pass into the hands of some hundreds of persons who 

 would not perhaps be able to obtain it at the original subscription price. 

 As I have now pretty well ascertained the amount of my subscribers, I have 

 only had a few copies struck off beyond that number, and my edition will 

 consequently be disposed of before a reprint can be completed ; and as I 

 have effaced the drawings from the stones, at no future time shall T be de- 

 sirous of attempting another edition of a work which has all along been to 

 me a source of vexation and sacrifice, whatever intellectual enjoyment it 

 may have produced me. If, therefore, a cheap edition of my work be 

 really seriously talked of, I should like to know the parties who are about 

 to engage in it, as I should have some advice to give them to enable them 

 more readily to attain the object which I, at least, think they should have in 

 view ; viz., the diffusion of a work regarded as useful, and not merely an 

 attempt to injure me. As my work will be completely finished in a 

 year, with the 15th livraison, which I hope to publish next Easter, I shall 

 esteem myself fortunate to see the work translated, in whatever shape it 

 may appear. 



Hoping that you will insert the contents of this letter entire and literally 

 translated, I have the honour to inform you that I have sent copies to se- 

 veral of my friends. 



Louis Agassiz. 



MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



JULY, 1839. 



Our remarks upon M. Nicolet's French edition of Sowerby's work on the 

 fossil shells of this country, have drawn forth a reply from Prof. Agassiz, 

 which should have received a place in our last month's number, had it 

 not reached us too late for publication. We now insert his letter, with 

 a translation of its contents, that every publicity in our power may be 

 given to the vindication which he has put forward. Had the work under 

 notice originated with none other name than those of the printer, pub- 

 lisher, and artist, greatly as we might have regretted, for the interests of 

 science, the non-existence of international protecting enactments, the 



