CHAPTER VI. 



1832 : .ET. 25. 



Unexpected Relief from Difficulties. — Correspondence with 

 Humboldt. — Excursion to the Coast of Normandy. — First 

 Sight of the Sea. — Correspondence concerning Professor- 

 ship at Neuchatel. — Birthday Fete. — Invitation to Chair 

 of Natural History at Neuchatel. — Acceptance. — Letter 

 to Humboldt. 



Agassiz was not called upon to make the 

 sacrifice of giving up his artist and leaving 

 Paris, although he was, or at least thought 

 himself, prepared for it. The darkest hour 

 is before the dawn, and the letter next given 

 announces an unexpected relief from press- 

 ing distress and anxiety. 



TO HIS FATHER AND MOTHER. 



Paris, March, 1832. 



... I am still so agitated and so surprised 

 at what has just happened that I scarcely be- 

 lieve what my eyes tell me. 



I mentioned in a postscript to my last letter 

 that I had called yesterday on M. de Hum- 



