* LETTER FROM PROF. AGIASSIZ 



idea into execution, the " ufilite" of such an edition would, in this case, 

 be equally incontestable, and probably no one would be better able to 

 appreciate its value than Louis Agassiz himself. We believe the num- 

 ber of copies of Agassiz' work sold in this country exceeds one hundred, 

 and were this demand supplanted by an English translation, we would 

 not venture to predict how many more livraisons of the ' Poissons Fos- 

 siles' would be forthcoming. Of this we feel satisfied, that the Fossil 

 Couchology would never have been undertaken, if its authors (the 

 Messrs. Sowerby) had anticipated such a course as that pursued in the 

 present instance by Agassiz ; and if his first speculation succeed, we 

 suppose he will follow it up with a regular system of piracy upon the 

 literary productions of English naturalists. 



Personal knowledge, and a feeling of respect for the proud position 

 in the zoological world occupied by the author of the ' Poissons Fossiles' 

 make us, on the present occasion, most reluctant censurers. — Agassiz 

 has met with the most cordial support on all sides, and in various ways, 

 from the cultivators of science in this country ; and although it may 

 ajjpear harsh thus to express ourselves, we do not hesitate openly to de- 

 clare our conviction, that in editing a transcript in the French language 

 of the ' Mineral Conchology of Great Britain,' its author cannot be said 

 to have really promoted the objects of science, still less to have added 

 to his own reputation. 



Letter from Prof. Agassiz on the subject of the French Edition of 

 the ' Mineral Conchology of Great Britain.'* 



Neuchatel, Mai 15, 1839. 



Monsieur, 



Je viens de lire dans votre journal (N. 29) line 

 incrimination odieuse dela partquej'ai prise a la publication 

 que fait dans ce moment M. Nicolet, d'lme edition a bon mar- 

 che de la ' Conchyliologie Mineralogique ' de J. Sowerby. — 

 Rien ne me paroitroit mieux merite que les reproches qui 

 m'y sont addresses, si les assertions et les insinuations que 

 renferme cet article n'etoient d'un bout a I'autre perfides ou 

 mensongeres. Puisque vous avez accueilli cette accusation 

 dans votre journal, j 'attends de votre loyaute que vous y in- 

 sererez ma justification dans votre plus prochain No. 



Malgre 1' immense importance de I'ouvrage de Sowerby sur 

 les fossiles d' Angleterre, cette publication n' a pu trouver qu' 



* Mag. Nat. Hist. Vol. iii. n. s. p. .356. 



