198 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



but I am too little French by character, and 

 too anxious to live in Switzerland, not to pre- 

 fer the place you can offer me, however small 

 the appointments, if they do but keep me 

 above actual embarrassment. I say thus much 

 only in order to answer that clause in your 

 letter where you touch upon this question. I 

 would add that I leave the field quite free in 

 this respect, and that I am yours without re- 

 serve, if, indeed, within the fortnight, the ur- 

 gency of the Parisians does not carry the day, 

 or, rather, as soon as I write you that I have 

 been able finally to withdraw. You easily un- 

 derstand that I cannot bluntly decline offers 

 which seem to those who make them so bril- 

 liant. But I shall hold out against them to 

 the utmost. My course with reference to my 

 own publications will have shown you that I 

 do not care for a lucrative position from per- 

 sonal interest ; that, on the contrary, I should 

 always be ready to use such means as I may 

 have at my disposition for the advancement of 

 the institution confided to my care. 



My work will still detain me for four or five 

 months at Paris, — my time being after that 

 completely at my disposal. The period at 

 which I should like to begin my lectures is 

 therefore very near, and I think if your people 



