forward the work to a successful end. It has been suggested that all this 

 gratifying success has been due to my efforts ; but I have done nothing 

 except to point out what was needed and what might be accomplished. It 

 is to the liberality of the citizens of Boston, and to the generosity of the 

 Legislature, acting in accordance with the wise suggestions of the Governor, 

 that we owe an institution which cannot fail to prove an honor and an ad- 

 vantage to the State." 



INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE. 



In October, 1859, Professor Agassiz addressed the following letter 

 to the Trustees of the Museum : — 



Mr. President and Gentlemen, — When I appeared last spring before 

 a Joint Committee of the House and Senate, to solicit aid in behalf of a 

 Museum of Comparative Zoology, I mentioned incidentally that it was my 

 intention to present to such an institution, after it should have been founded, 

 whatever collections I may myself possess that could be acceptable for its 

 increase. It is now my desire formally to fulfil my engagement. Allow me 

 to state in this connection that, since 1852, when the collections I had made 

 up to that time were secured for the University by a subscription raised 

 among citizens of Boston, I have taken charge of those specimens and 

 cared for their safe preservation by providing for jars, alcohol, and the other 

 means of keeping them in a good condition, and also largely increased the 

 collection by securing at my private expense as many more specimens as I 

 could up to last year, when the Corporation of Harvard College began to 

 aid me by a monthly allowance, until the movement was set on foot which 

 has ended in the establishment of the Institution now in course of operation. 

 What I now offer to you for acceptance is the collection I have made since 

 1852, and any claim I may have upon the Museum for the care of that part 

 of the collection secured at that time for the University. The sums I have 

 paid in cash for making these additions to the Museum, including the 

 expenses for preserving the specimens belonging to the University, amount 

 to ten thousand dollars, not counting my travelling expenses when making 

 excursions and longer journeys for the purpose of gathering specimens. I 

 hope, Mr. President and gentlemen, you will accept this contribution to the 

 Museum from a student of Nature who feels deeply grateful for all that you 

 are doing for the advancement of his favorite science. Please, Mr. President 

 and gentlemen, to accept the assurance of my highest regard and of my 

 entire devotion to our scientific institutions. 



L. Agassiz. 



