178 ELIZABETH CARY AGASSIZ 
ion, and while he was in Boston did nothing without 
him. As he is an active party Alex found his place 
no sinecure; but, of course, he was glad to do all in 
his power, and Alex never appeared more charmingly. 
The same day I passed a long time with them both; 
I am really with them, when there are no outside 
ceremonies to be observed, as old friends, and the 
Empress is so sweet and sympathetic. The Emperor 
proposed to come to breakfast the next morning, — 
as he took the initiative in everything it made the 
arrangements easier, — and we had a few guests to 
meet him. The one of honor was Longfellow, and it 
was a pleasure to me that they met under our roof. 
The Emperor has long been an affectionate admirer 
of him. The whole occasion was pleasant, the weather 
lovely — a beautiful June morning, — every one was 
sociable, and I think there was as little awkwardness 
as possible. Then he went all over the college, the 
Museum, etc., then to Mt. Auburn, then closed the 
day by dining with Longfellow — only he and Alex, 
Holmes, Emerson and the family. ... 
The next day in the afternoon the Emperor and 
Empress went to drive with us, but the weather was 
gloomy, and if he had n’t been very funny and she 
very cordial and sweet and ready to take every- 
thing in the pleasantest way, I should have felt it 
rather a failure; however, they would go and insisted 
it was all right. I saw them every day afterward, 
and the Emperor came out to bid me good-bye 
the last hour before leaving. He seemed delighted 
with his visit in Boston. He said he thought Boston 
