vi PREFACE 



ficult matter to make a characteristic collection of letters 

 now than it was in past generations. D'autres temps, 

 d'autres mceurs ; to-day we no longer keep trunks full 

 of old letters stored in our attics, nor do we write the 

 leisurely and carefully penned epistles of our fore- 

 fathers, -while the roomy lofts that harbored them have 

 vanished. 



After it became apparent that it would be necessary 

 to cast this book in its present form, I would gladly 

 have handed the material to a more experienced bio- 

 grapher. Since no suitable person was available, it has 

 fallen to me to complete the work, for lack of a fitting 

 Boswell. 



I wish to take this opportunity of most cordially 

 thankiug the many individuals who have kindly allowed 

 me to examine my father's letters and have assisted in 

 numerous other ways. I trust that they will consider 

 their number a sufficient excuse for not mentioning 

 them personally. 



Most especially do I wish to express my warm appre- 

 ciation for the help of the following persons : first and 

 foremost, Mr. Samuel Henshaw, the present Director 

 of the so-called " Agassiz Museum," who has given 

 no end of invaluable assistance ; my wife, whose sym- 

 pathy and help have been no small factors in finishing 

 tbis book ; my aunt, Mrs. H. L. Higginson, who has 

 furnished much of the material for the earlier pages ; 

 Miss Elizabeth H. Clark, my father's secretary for 

 nearly thirty years ; Sir John Murray ; Dr. A. G. Mayer ; 

 Dr. H. B. Bigelow ; Professor H. L. Clark; and the pre- 

 sent Mr. Q. A. Shaw. 



My warmest thanks are also due to Professor Bar- 

 rett Wendell, who has kindly read the manuscript, 



