AGASSIZ TO SUMNER, 635 



fore you. I, too, should like to see Nature in 

 her most splendid robes ; but I must stay at 

 home and help keep the peace. Good-by — 

 Bon voyage ! 



Ever sincerely yours, 



Charles Sumner. 



TO CHARLES SUMNER. 



Rio Negro ; on board the Brazilian > 

 War Steamer Ibicuhy, December 26, 1865. ) 



My dear Sumner, — The heading of these 

 lines tells a long and interesting story. Here 

 I am, sailing on the Rio Negro, with my wife 

 and a young Brazilian friend, provided with 

 all the facilities which modern improvements, 

 the extraordinary liberality of the Brazilian 

 government, and the kindness of our com- 

 mander can bestow, and pursuing my scien- 

 tific investigations with as much ease as if I 

 were in my study, or in the Museiun at Cam- 

 bridge, — with this enormous difference, that 

 I am writing on deck, protected by an awning 

 from the hot sun, and surrounded by all the 

 luxuriance of the richest tropical vegetation. 



The kind reception I met at the hands of 

 the emperor on my arrival at Rio has been 

 followed by every possible attention and mark 

 of good-will toward me personally, but usually 



