276 LOUIS AGASS2Z. 



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- 



