92 FOUNDERS OF OCEANOGRAPHY 



others have more claims on the honour. I don't care a bit 

 about it. If I consult my own feelings, I would much rather 

 have nothing to do with it. My wife suggests there may be 

 some question of duty. Perhaps ? I had not heard you had 

 taken on the General Secretaryship." . . . 



In a letter from Boston, U.S.A., he writes on March 20, 

 1911:— 



"... On Saturday I received your letter of the 

 3rd March. By same post had letters from Geikie and 

 Bonney. Had I been at home, I would of course have seen 

 you before sending any reply, but I am not likely to be in 

 England before June. 



"... To-morrow I deliver the Agassiz address at 

 Harvard. I came over for that address, but have been let in 

 for the Lowell lectures (eight) and addresses here [Boston], 

 Princeton, New York, and Washington. We go to Wash- 

 ington next month. . . . 



" During the last two days I've had frequent deliberations 

 with my wife and daughter, who are with me, and the only 

 way out seemed to be to decline the nomination. For some 

 time past I have been planning a cruise as far as the Pacific 

 during 1912 and 1913, and I have made a good many business 

 and domestic arrangements with that object in view. It 

 must take place in these years or not at all, and if my health 

 be good I cannot well withdraw. 



" I know your enthusiastic nature and your too favourable 

 opinion of my poor labours. I know you like to do me 

 honour. For these reasons I very much regret the nature of 

 the cables I have just sent off to you, Bonney, and Geikie. I 

 am anxious to do anything to assist the progress of oceano- 

 graphy, but I fear my presidentship of the British Association 

 would not do much in that direction. However, it is very 

 good and nice of you to say you think it would. I find many 

 enthusiastic young workers here, and I believe there will Hkely 

 be a ship fitted out for a deep-sea expedition in 1912. They 

 wish to consult me at Washington and New York about this. 



