690 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



veying steamer round to California in the 

 course of the summer. She will probably 

 start at the end of June. Would you go in 

 her, and do deep-sea dredging all the way 

 round ? If so, what companions will you 

 take ? If not, who shall go ? . . . 



FROM AGASSIZ TO PROFESSOR PEIRCE. 



Cambridge, February 20, 1871. 



... I am ever joyed at the prospect your 

 letter opens before me. Of course I will go, 

 unless Brown-Sequard orders me positively to 

 stay on terra firma. But even then, I should 

 like to have a hand in arranging the party, as 

 I feel there never was, and is not likely soon 

 again to be, such an opportunity for promoting 

 the cause of science generally, and that of nat- 

 ural history in particular. I would like Pour- 

 tales and Alex, to be of the party, and both 

 would gladly join if they can. Both are as 

 much interested about it as I am, and I have 

 no doubt between us we may organize a work- 

 ing team, strong enough to do something cred- 

 itable. It seems to me that the best plan to 

 pursue in the survey would be to select care- 

 fully a few points (as many as time would al- 

 low) on shore, from which to work at right 

 angles with the coast, to as great a distance as 



