LEGACY FROM CUVIER. 167 



but that as I had given it so much attention, 

 and had done my work so well, he had decided 

 to renounce his project, and to place at my 

 disposition all the materials he had collected 

 and all the preliminary notes he had taken. 



You can imagine what new ardor this has 

 given me for my work, the more so because 

 M. Cuvier, M. Humboldt, and several other 

 persons of mark who are interested in it have 

 promised to speak in my behalf to a publisher 

 (to Levrault, who seems disposed to undertake 

 the publication should peace be continued), 

 and to recommend me strongly. To accom- 

 plish my end without neglecting other occu- 

 pations, I work regularly at least fifteen hours 

 a day, sometimes even an hour or two more ; 

 but I hope to reach my goal in good time. 



This trust from Cuvier proved to be a leg- 

 acy. Less than three months after the date 

 of this letter Agassiz went, as often hap- 

 pened, to work one morning with him in his 

 study. It was Sunday, and he was employed 

 upon something which Cuvier had asked him 

 to do, saying, " You are young ; you have time 

 enough for it, and I have none to spare." They 

 worked together till eleven o'clock, when Cu- 

 vier invited Agassiz to join him at breakfast 



