CHAPTER XXI. 



1865-1868: ^t. 58-61. 



Letter to his Mother announcing Journey to Brazil. — Sketch 

 of Journey. — Kindness of the Emperor. — Liberality of 

 the Brazilian Government. — Correspondence with Charles 

 Sumner. — Letter to his Mother at Close of Brazil Jour- 

 ney. — Letter from Martius concerning Journey in Brazil. 



— Return to Cambridge. — Lectures in Boston and New 

 York. — Summer at Nahant. — Letter to Professor Peirce 

 on the Survey of Boston Harbor. — Death of his Mother. 



— Illness. — Correspondence with Oswald Heer. — Sum- 

 mer Journey in the West. — Cornell University. — Letter 

 from Longfellow. 



The next important event in the life of 

 Agassiz, due in the first instance to his fail- 

 ing health, which made some change of scene 

 and climate necessary, is best announced by 

 himself in the following letter. 



TO HIS MOTHER. 



Cambridge, March 22, 1865. 



Dear Mother, — You will shed tears of 

 joy when you read this, but such tears are 

 harmless. Listen, then, to what has happened. 

 A few weeks ago I was thinking how I should 



