234 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



To the Same. 



Trinity College, March 18, 1852. 

 While I think of it, let me ask you to give me some 

 account of Margaret Fuller (Ossoli) if you knew her personally, 

 or are acquainted with any persons who did. We have become 

 much interested in her Life, which is just published here, and I 

 find she came from near Cambridge ; so probably you can tell 

 us some personal traits or particulars that may serve to make 

 the picture more life-like. Poor thing! What a miserable 

 ending to her romantic life! The whole reminds me of a 

 drama, where all the persons are cleared off the stage for a 

 wind-up. Such ending often struck me as forced and unnatural, 

 merely designed to harrow the feelings; but here is a real 

 tragedy, as strange in its circumstances and complete in its 

 parts as any ever invented. 



I suppose that Agassiz has got the winter professorship at 

 Charleston, by your saying that he is still there. It will be a 

 nice arrangement, allowing him to explore the southern fauna 

 at his ease. I should much like to have a copy of his Paper on 

 Medusae in the Academy Transactions, which he promised me 

 and forgot to send. You know I look a little after beasts now 

 and then, and I think there was much novelty in it. 



I am encouraged by the promise of American sale for my 

 proposed volume of plates, and should much like to be at work 

 on them ; but I must first finish the Smithsonian work and 

 Dr. Hooker's New Zealand, which I fear will occupy most of 

 my working time this season. I have just finished the 35th 

 plate of " Nereis," and therefore have but one to do of Part 2nd ; 

 but I have not written a word yet or made a single description, 

 and there are shoals of Polysiplwnise and Callithamnise to be 

 microscopically examined. I hope to begin these on the 1st of 

 April ; a propitious day, truly ! 



You will wonder that I should take up a scheme of travels 

 again, but I have long dreamed of a southern tour. It was 

 the favourite dream of my boyhood, and the cause of my 

 Cape journey, which ended indeed in disappointment, but left 

 the wish for more travel behind. This comes up and fades 

 away again at intervals ; and perhaps the present furor may 

 wear out too. 



