LETTERS READ BEFORE THE ACADEMY. 



Letters addressed to the President of the Academy, 

 relating to Natural History or Science, were read at the 

 meetings. Some of them have been furnished by Prof. 

 Kirtland, which are here inserted. Those of Prof. Agassiz 

 are particularly interesting. 



Cambridge, July 22, 1851. 

 My Dear Sir: 



I need hardly apologise for my long silence. 

 I feel too much sympathy for you and your character not 

 to suppose that there must be some resemblance between 

 us, and that you may have admitted, as I would have done, 

 that my not answering your very kind letter was probably 

 owing to the circumstance that I had either little to say, 

 or too much to do. Had I not had the pleasure of a few 

 days personal intercourse, I would no doubt have answered 

 immediately, i'or no man could receive such obliging an 

 offer as you have made to me without being highly grati- 

 fied and feeling greatly obliged. 



I value the opportunity you offer me of obtaining speci- 

 mens from your locality very much, and would at once 

 request you to put aside for me the following objects, for 

 which I feel at present a special interest, my attention 

 being directed to them with the view of making mono- 

 graphs, I am anxious, therefore, to obtain specimens from 

 all parts of the country. 



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