THE BIOGRAPHY OF AGASSIZ 185 
out examination. They filled many trunks. From 
this mass I have preserved all that I thought of 
the least biographical interest — much that I prob- 
ably shall not use. Beside the arranging of this 
manuscript it has been necessary for me to make a 
careful review of his early works. Of course [for] 
the technical scientific work I am entirely incom- 
petent. I cannot even understand it. I try to grasp 
the larger generalizations, the ideas underlying the 
whole, and to see when these thoughts first dawned 
upon him — how early in life the outline of his 
intellectual work was sketched out and how: it was 
gradually filled in. This I strive to do. He himself 
helped me to understand it — indeed he gave into 
my hand the key to his intellectual history. The tech- 
nical work — I mean the critical revision of his in- 
vestigations in detail —I should, of course, leave to 
Alex. However, as far as possible I shall let the letters 
write the biography; we have many, and they make 
in themselves, if judiciously put together, a coher- 
ent narrative. But you will easily understand, 
knowing as you do and following with such sympa- 
thy our domestic life, how difficult it has been for 
me to go on connectedly and rapidly with my work. 
Of course the care of my three boys (Alex’s chil- 
dren) occupies me very much. 
TO AUGUSTE MAYOR 
Nahant, September 17, 1877 
Tue number of the Révue Suisse containing the 
Memoir of M. Ernest Favre upon Agassiz only 
