CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. MANTELL. 219 



course on chemistry, and during the three months of almost 

 daily experimental lectures which it occupies, I can hardly 

 admit a thought on any other subject of science. But 

 geology is in the house. Mr. Dana is far advanced in his 

 geology of the Pacific Islands, and other regions visited by 

 the American exploring expedition. From some parts of 

 the MS. which have been read to me, and from my full 

 knowledge of his talents, accuracy, and taste, I am prepared 

 to expect a valuable and interesting work, which will form 

 an important addition to the science ; for, general conclu- 

 sions grow out of his local facts, and his mind being mature, 

 his age is about thirty-three, and his observations ex- 

 tensive, I have no anxiety for the result. I beg you not to 

 increase your labors by writing to me, while you have the 

 " Isle of Wight" in hand ; "it must be a great and laborious 

 work, and I know by some experience, how inconvenient 

 and exhausting it is to turn aside from an engrossing labor 

 to write letters. I confess I am all the while anxious about 

 you, and would only ask for a brief note now and then, just 

 to assure me that your severe malady has not quite borne 

 you down. Even a newspaper, occasionally, with your 

 initials on the wrapper and the date, would much relieve 

 my^anxiety. I am glad you could go down to the Associ- 

 ation, even for a short time, but am surprised that they are 

 willing to cheapen science for the sake of the guineas. Mr. 

 Lyell has sent us his remarks on the Delta of the Missis- 

 sippi, and we have the Athenaeum reports of the doings of 

 the association, but I have not as yet had leisure to peruse 

 them ; it was too late to say anything of them in our 

 number for November 1st, but we shall mention them in 

 the January number, 1847. 



At last Agassiz has made his appearance ; he announced 

 himself from Boston about a month since, and I gave him 

 a prompt reply. He then came on to make our acquaint- 

 ance ; B. S., Jr., and I went to the hotel on the evening of 

 his arrival, and took him home as a guest. He lodged at 



