AGASSIZ TO SIR PHILIP EGERTON. 347 



In the same strain is this extract from an- 

 other letter of Humboldt's, written two or 

 three months later. 



. . . " ^ Grace from on high,' says Madame 

 de Sevign^, ' comes slowly.' I especially de- 

 sire it for the glacial period and for that fatal 

 cap of ice which frightens me, child of the 

 equator that I am. My heresy, of little im- 

 portance, since I have seen nothing, does not, 

 I assure you, my dear Agassiz, diminish my 

 ardent desire that all your observations should 

 be published. ... I rejoice in the good news 

 you give me of the fishes. I should pain 

 you did I add that this work of yours, by the 

 light it has shed on the organic development 

 of animals, makes the true foundation of your 

 glory." . . . 



LOUIS AGASSIZ TO SIR PHILIP EGERTON. 



NeuchItel, June, 1842. 



... I am hard at work on the fishes of the 

 " Old Red," and will send you at Manchester a 

 part at least of the plates, with a general sum- 

 mary of the species of that formation. I aim 

 to finish the work with such care that it shall 

 mark a sensible advance in ichthyology. I 

 hope it will satisfy you. . . . You ask me how 

 I intend to finish my Fossil Fishes ? As f ol- 



