98 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



the surest road to the end I have proposed to 

 myself ever since I began my medical studies. 

 Weigh all my reasons, for in this my peace of 

 mind and my future happiness are concerned. 

 Examine my conduct with reference to what 

 I propose in every light, that of son and Vau- 

 dois citizen included, and I feel sure you will 

 concur in my views. 



Here is my aim and the means by which I 

 propose to carry it out. I wish it may be 

 said of Louis Agassiz that he was the first 

 naturalist of his time, a good citizen, and a 

 good son, beloved of those who knew him. 

 I feel within myself the strength of a whole 

 generation to work toward this end, and I 

 will reach it if the means are not wanting. 

 Let us see in what these means consist. [Here 

 follows the summing up of his reasons for 

 preferring a professorship of natural history 

 to the practice of medicine, and his intention 

 of trying for a diploma as Doctor of Philoso- 

 phy in Germany.] But how .obtain a pro- 

 fessorship, you will say, that is the impor- 

 tant point? I answer, the first step is to 

 make myself a European name, and for that 

 I am on the right road. In the first place 

 my work on the fishes of Brazil, just about 

 to appear, will make me favorably known. I 



