JOHN MURRAY 93 



Townsend is now away in the ' Albatross,' off the Pacific 

 coast. They invited me to go with them, also to go to the 

 Tortugas Station, where some very interesting work is 

 going on." . . . 



This further letter refers to the same occasion. It is from 

 Washington, D.C., April 19, 1911 :— 



"... I duly received your letter of the 20th. I have 

 not replied at once, especially as I had written to you when 

 I sent off my cable, and I had also cabled and written to 

 Bonney and Geikie. I have not changed my mind about the 

 presidency. I cannot see my way to accept. I am very 

 sorry, for I would willingly do very much to please you and 

 my other friends on the Council. I also beheve that some 

 scientific man less known locally would be more agreeable to 

 the Dundee people. 



" You will see from the enclosed cutting that they have 

 been doing us much honour here. There was a dinner in our 

 honour last week, about seventy-five scientific men here and 

 their wives. The British Ambassador and his wife were 

 present. Taft accepted, but sent an excuse at the last 

 minute. 



" . . . . We go to Philadelphia to-morrow to meetings of 

 Philadelphia Academy. Then to New York. Osborn is to 

 have 14 miUionairesto hear me at the Museum as to what they 

 should do for the study of the Ocean ! ! May it have some 

 effect ! 



" On the 26th we start for the West to see rocks and mines 

 in Nevada. We sail from Boston on the 30th May. 



'* With my very best thanks to you for all your endeavours 

 to honour me, and to cultivate an interest in oceanography." 



The following letter of November 12, 1912, refers to the 

 final occasion. He was killed before the meeting in question 

 took place : — 



"... I shall not refuse at once. I'll consult with my 

 wife. All the same, I do not think it is the sort of thing for 

 a man over seventy. I'm very well just now — have been for 



