LETTER FROM HUMBOLDT. 223 



able to do something that may be useful to 

 you for the subscription. The Prince Royal's 

 name seemed to me rather important for you. 

 I have delayed writing, not because I am one 

 of the most persecuted men in Europe (the 

 persecution goes on crescendo ; there is not a 

 scholar in Prussia or Germany having any- 

 thing to ask of the King, or of M. d'Altenstein, 

 who does not think it necessary to make me 

 his agent, with power of attorney), but be- 

 cause it was necessary to await the Prince 

 Royal's return from his military circuit, and 

 the opportunity of speaking to him alone, 

 which does not occur when I am with the 

 King. 



Your prospectus is full of interest, and does 

 ample justice to those who have provided you 

 with materials. To name me among them 

 was an affectionate deceit, the ruse of a noble 

 soul like yours ; I am a little vexed with you 

 about it. 1 



1 The few words which called forth this protest from Hum- 

 boldt were as follows. After naming all those from whom he 

 had received help in specimens or otherwise, Agassiz con- 

 cludes : 



" Finally, I owe to M. de Humboldt not only important 

 notes on fossil fishes, but so many kindnesses hi connection 

 with my work that in enumerating them I should fear to 

 wound the delicacy of the giver." This will hardly seem an 

 exaggeration to those who know the facts of the case. 



