130 ALEXANDER AGASSIZ 



struction for the following summer, for he feared that 

 his influence would not be sufficient to secure the sup- 

 port that had been so readily accorded his father. The 

 latter's friends, however, rallied to his aid, and he soon 

 filled his teaching force, largely from those who had 

 helped the preceding year. There were more applica- 

 tions from students than could possibly be filled, the 

 great majority of the pupils being scholars of the for- 

 mer year. As soon as the school was opened, it became 

 evident that Agassiz had undertaken more than his 

 health would allow ; the doctors ordered him to leave 

 the island and take as complete a rest as possible. In 

 his absence Dr. A. S. Packard and Mr. F. W. Putnam 

 took charge of the school, and brought the season to a 

 successful close. 



TO WOLCOTT GIBBS 



Nahant, Aug. 8, 1874. 



I was obliged to drop Penikese. It broke me down 

 completely, and as that is the last of the Institutes started 

 by Father I shall have to do in the future what seems 

 to have done so well this summer, merely get the people 

 to go there for a few weeks, and direct from a distance. 

 Putnam and Packard who have had charge have done 

 admirably and worked most faithfully. Everything has 

 run to the satisfaction of all the pupils and there has 

 not been a word of grumbling from anybody. On the 

 contrary, they all have expressed the utmost gratitude 

 and satisfaction, and when I remember what chances I 

 had for work when I began, I don't wonder at it. I 

 hope to go there a few days yet, but shall not do much 

 — as long as I am idle I flourish, but the least work 

 unnerves me completely so that I seem to have no con- 



