MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. : 55 
me at Washington and New York about this. Townsend is 
_ now away in the ‘Albatross,’ off the Pacific coast. They 
invited me to go with them, also to go to the ee Station, 
__ where some very interesting work is going on.’ 
This further letter refers to the same occasion. It is fain 
Washington, D.C., 19th April, 1911 :— 
“«. . . I duly received your letter of the 20th. I have 
not replied at once, especially as I had written to you when 
I sent off my cable, and I had also cabled and written to Bonney 
and Geikie. I have not changed my mind about the Presidency. 
I cannot see my way to accept. I am very sorry, for I would 
willingly do very much to please you and my other friends on 
_ the Council. I also believe that some scientific man less known 
locally would be more agreeable to the Dundee people. 
“You will see from the enclosed cutting that they have 
been domg us much honour here. There was a dinner in our 
honour last week, about seventy-five scientific men here and 
their wives. The British Ambassador and his wife were present. 
Taft accepted, but sent an excuse at the last minute. 
t We go to Philadelphia to-morrow to meetings 
of Bigiadélphia Academy. Then to New York. Osborn is to 
have 14 millionaires to hear me at the Museum as to what they 
should do for the study of the Ocean!! May it have some 
effect ! 
“On the 26th we start for the West to see rocks and 
mines in Nevada. We sail from Boston on the 30th May. 
** With my very best thanks to you for all your endeavours 
to honour me, and to cultivate an interest in Oceanography.” 
The following letter of 12th November, 1912, refers to 
the final occasion. He was killed before the meeting in question 
took place :— 
q ii I shall not refuse at once. [ll consult with 
my wife. All the same I do not think it is the sort of thing for 
a man over seventy. I’m very well just now—have been for 
