188 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



treat you to make use of the accompanying 

 small credit. You would do more for me I 

 am sure. Consider it an advance which need 

 not be paid for years, and which I will gladly 

 increase when I go away or even earlier. It 

 would pain me deeply should the urgency of 

 my request made in the closest confidence, — 

 in short, a transaction as between two friends 

 of unequal age, — be disagreeable to you. I 

 should wish to be pleasantly remembered by a 

 young man of your character. 



Yours, with the most affectionate respect, 

 Alexander Humboldt. 



With this letter was found the following 

 note of acknowledgment, scrawled in almost 

 illegible pencil marks. Whether sent exactly 

 as it stands or not, it is evidently the first out- 

 burst of Agassiz's gratitude. 



My benefactor and friend, — it is too much ; 

 I cannot find words to tell you how deeply 

 your letter of to-day has moved me. I have 

 just been at your house that I might thank 

 you in person with all my heart ; but now I 

 must wait to do so until I have the good for- 

 tune to meet you. At what a moment does 

 your help come to me ! I inclose a letter from 



