276 LOUIS AGASS1Z. 



M. AUGUSTE DE LA RIVE TO LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



GENEVA, May 12, 1836. 



... I have not yet received your address. 

 I hope you will send it to me without delay, 

 for I am anxious to bring it before our read- 

 ers. I hope also that you will not forget what 

 you have promised me for the " Bibliotheque 

 Universelle." I am exceedingly anxious to 

 have your cooperation ; the more so that it 

 will reinforce that of several distinguished 

 savants whose assistance I have recently se- 

 cured. 



If I weary you with a second letter, how- 

 ever, it is not only to remind you of your 

 promise about the "Bibliotheque Universelle," 

 but for another object still more important 

 and urgent. The matter stands thus. Our 

 academic courses have just opened under fa- 

 vorable auspices. The number of students 

 is much increased, and, especially, we have a 

 good many from Germany and England. This 

 circumstance makes us feel more strongly the 

 importance of completing our organization, 

 and of doing this wisely and quickly. I will 

 not play the diplomat with you, but will 

 frankly say, without circumlocution, that you 

 seem to me the one essential, the one indis- 



