ZURICH PROFESSORSHIP DECLINED. 517 



was my duty toward science ? After the most 

 careful consideration I am no longer in doubt, 

 and though it grieves me to do so, I write to 

 beg that you will withdraw from any action 

 which might bring me a direct call to the pro- 

 fessorship in Zurich. I have decided to re- 

 main here for an indefinite time, under the 

 conviction that I shall exert a more advan- 

 tageous and more extensive influence on the 

 progress of science in this country than in 

 Europe. 



I regret that I cannot accept your offer of 

 the Oeningen fossils. In the last two years 

 I have spent more than 20,000 francs on my 

 collection, and must not incur any farther ex- 

 pense of that kind at present. As soon, how- 

 ever, as I have new means at my command 

 such a collection would be most welcome, and 

 should it remain in your hands I may be very 

 glad to take it. Neither can I make any ex- 

 change of duplicates just now, as I have not 

 yet been able to sort my collections and set 

 aside the specimens which may be considered 

 only as materials for exchange. Can you pro- 

 cure for me Glarus fishes in any considerable 

 number ? I should like to purchase them 

 for my collection, and do not care for single 

 specimens of every species, but would prefer 



