64 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



you give me free rein just where I wanted it. 

 That is, you consent that I should devote my- 

 self wholly to the natural sciences should this 

 career offer me, as I hope it may, a more favor- 

 able prospect. It requires, for instance, but 

 two or three years to go around the world at 

 government expense. I will levy contribu- 

 tions on all my senses that not a single chance 

 may escape me for making interesting ob- 

 servations and fine collections, so that I also 

 may be ranked among those who have en- 

 larged the boundaries of science. With that 

 my future is secured, and I shall return con- 

 tent and disposed to do all that you wish. 

 Even then, if medicine had gained greater at- 

 traction for me, there would still be time to 

 begin the practice of it. It seems to me there 

 is nothing impracticable in this plan. I beg 

 you to think of it, and to talk it over with 

 papa and with my uncle at Lausanne. ... I 

 am perfectly well and as happy as possible, 

 for I feed in clover here on my favorite stud- 

 ies, with every facility at my command. If 

 you thought my New Year's letter depressed, 

 it was only a momentary gloom due to the 

 memories awakened by the day. . . . 



