236 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



AGASSIZ TO LYELL. 



Neuchatel, March 25, 1834. 

 . . . You cannot imagine the joy your let- 

 ter has given me. The prize awarded to me 

 is at once so unexpected an honor and so wel- 

 come an aid that I could hardly believe my 

 eyes when, with tears of relief and gratitude, 

 I read your letter. In the presence of a sa- 

 vant, I need not be ashamed of my penury, 

 since I have spent the little I had, wholly in 

 scientific researches. I do not, therefore, hes- 

 itate to confess to you that at no time could 

 your gift have given me greater pleasure. 

 Generous friends have helped me to bring out 

 the first number of my " Fossil Fishes ; " the 

 plates of the second are finished, but I was 

 greatly embarrassed to know how to print a 

 sufficient number of copies before the returns 

 from the first should be paid in. The text is 

 ready also, so that now, in a fortnight, I can 

 begin the distribution, and, the rotation once 

 established, I hope that preceding numbers 

 will always enable me to publish the next in 

 succession without interruption. I even count 

 upon this resource as affording me the means 

 of making a journey to England before long. 

 If no obstacle arises I hope to accomplish this 



