LETTERS FROM PROFESSOR AGASSIZ. 157 



devotion, and be good enough to present my warm greetings 

 to your son. 



L. AGASSIZ. 



NEUFCHATEL,, 20th October, 1845. 



FROM PROFESSOR AGASSIZ. 



MY DEAR SIR, In a few days I leave Neufchatel for 

 Paris, where I shall remain some weeks, before crossing 

 to England, which I shall not leave for the United States 

 probably before the month of April, desiring to thoroughly 

 inform myself of all that is new amongst us in the domain 

 of natural science, before leaving for a long time our old 

 Europe. It would be difficult for me to say to you how 

 much I anticipate seeing you, and making the personal ac- 

 quaintance of all the distinguished savans of your country, 

 whose works I have recently carefully studied. There is in 

 the prodigious activity of the Americans something intoxi- 

 cating, which has inspired me ; and I already feel my youth 

 renewed in the anticipated contact with the noted men of 

 your young and glorious republic. I am infinitely obliged 

 to you for all the valuable information you have given me, 

 and which will be very useful to me on my arrival in Bos- 

 ton or New York. I cannot yet tell you precisely the time 

 of my departure, nor whether I shall come to New York 

 or Boston. My decision will depend on the time I am 

 obliged to spend in Paris and London. If my departure 

 should be postponed till the fine weather, I should prefer 

 to make the passage in a sailing vessel, so as to make some 

 observations on the sea and its inhabitants ; if I am ready 

 before, I shall choose the steamer from Liverpool, so as to 

 shorten the passage in bad weather. In either case I will 

 inform you of my departure as soon as it is irrevocably de- 

 cided upon ; and my first thought on arriving will be to 

 take you warmly by the hand, and thank you sincerely for 

 all your kindness to me. 



As you know better than I what is best adapted to your 



