Waterston.] 230 [January 7, 



progressing, and if satisfactory, forward them at once to the 

 Music Hall. Very truly yours, 



" L. Agassiz." 



On the 13th of September he wrote : — 



"Dear Sir: — 



" I hope I may have a proof of my address for your report- 

 ers by the time I reach Boston to-morrow, which I shall 

 hand to you. My diagrams went to the Music Hall Saturday 

 afternoon, with the palm-branch worn on Humboldt's funeral. 



" The pen taken from his desk the day he died, and sent to 

 me, I shall bring myself, fearing it might be lost if left with 

 bulkier objects. Very truly yours, 



"L. Agassiz." 



Such were some of the preparatory labors connected with 

 the address which was to be heard on that Centennial Anni- 

 versary by literary and scientific men in every part of the 

 country. Seldom has there been an occasion in the history 

 of New England, which has brought together so brilliant an 

 assemblage of able scholars and prominent men in every 

 department of thought. 



At the evening reception, Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson, in 

 speaking of what he termed the " delightful address in praise 

 of Humboldt," concentrated his estimate in this characteris- 

 tic declaration, " our eminent professor never delivered a 

 discourse more wise, more happy, or of more varied power." 



These words expressed the universal feeling. And the 

 address, so cordially welcomed by those who heard it, was 

 received when published with equal favor on both sides of 

 the Atlantic. 



This very day, I was reading a letter by Sir John Her- 

 schel expressing his commendation ; and in the Life of Alex- 



