116 LOUIS AGASSIZ 



at first I hardly believed I had heard 

 him rightly. . . . Not only did he pro- 

 vide most liberally for assistants, but 

 ... he continued to advance whatever 

 sums were needed. " The expedition 

 proved longer and more costly than was 

 at first anticipated, " which/' Agassiz 

 hastily adds, "is usual in such cases." 

 He wrote the news to his mother, say- 

 ing, "You will shed tears of joy when 

 you read this, but such tears are harm- 

 less. 77 Then follow some of the wonder- 

 ful favours already vouchsafed him. 

 The steamship has invited the whole 

 party to travel free of charge. The gov- 

 ernment has surprised him by desiring 

 naval officers to aid his party. "I seem 

 like the spoiled child of the country ; 

 and I hope God will giye me strength to 

 repay in devotion to her institutions and 

 to her scientific and intellectual develop- 

 ment, all that her citizens have done for 

 me. ' ' 



This overjoyed gratitude breathes also 



