1874.] 235 [Waterston. 



The gratification of Professor Agassiz was at once ex- 

 pressed. In a note written July 3d, he says : 



" Your proposition to connect a scholarship with the Mu- 

 seum of Comparative Zoology, in commemoration of this 

 occasion, has had great weight with me. I believe that such 

 an arrangement will not only be an ever-returning memento 

 of the solemnities of this 14th of September, but, if properly 

 conducted, will contribute to the real advancement of Nat- 

 ural History among us." 



The origin of this scholarship was by some misappre- 

 hended. It was supposed to have been suggested, directly 

 or indirectly, by Professor Agassiz. This is an entire mis- 

 take. No one could feel more sensitive than he himself 

 did upon this subject. His feelings are frankly expressed 

 in a note which I received from him, after he had read a 

 paragraph in the daily papers, referring this movement to 

 him. 



"My Dear Sir: — 



" In a paper to-day, giving an account of the proposed cele- 

 bration, ' a plan ' is alluded to * of Mr. Agassiz for founding a 

 Humboldt Scholarship in the institution of which he is the 

 head.' 



" This is no doubt a simple error of the press, but I should 

 be very sorry to have it stand. It would have been very un- 

 gracious in me, and would have shown, to say the least, a 

 great want of delicacy, had I suggested an endowment for 

 the Museum in which I am personally interested. It was, 

 as you know, a proposition made spontaneously without any 

 reference to me. And though I rejoice in it and feel doubly 

 unwilling, on account of this offer, to shrink from the respon- 

 sibility connected with the invitation of your committee, yet 

 the suggestion coming from me, under the circumstances, in- 

 stead of being appropriate, would be wholly unbecoming. 



