The Agassiz Memorials. 275 



brance, forming as it does, in connection with many 

 reminiscences, an added and, may we not say, an 

 indissoluble tie between us and him. 



At the time when the invitation was extended to 

 Professor Agassiz, he was overwhelmed with work ; 

 while, by previous labour, both body and mind had 

 already been overtaxed. Under such circumstances 

 it would have appeared next to impossible for him 

 to comply with the request of the Society, yet so 

 desirous was he to meet their wishes that he under- 

 took the task. 



On the 8th of June Mrs. Agassiz wrote : 

 Though your letter touched and gratified me 

 deeply, it made me very anxious, too. I could al- 

 most have wished the occasion had not arisen, for it 

 alarms me to see the w^ay in which work accumu- 

 lates upon Mr. Agassiz, whose health is no longer so 

 good as it used to be. 



It seems as if it would be easy for him to talk of 

 Humboldt, and so, out of the fulness of his heart, it 

 would ; but on such an occasion, the address must 

 include a very careful review of all the facts of his 

 life, of his relation to science through three quarters 

 of a century ; it must be accurate as well as compre- 

 hensive, and even Humboldt's most intimate friend 

 could not prepare it without a good deal of care and 

 research. I do not say this because I would dis- 

 suade Mr. Agassiz from it ; on the contrary, it 

 seems to me a duty, which, since it arises, he cannot 

 avoid ; and I think he fully intends to undertake it, 

 though not without many fears lest he should not 

 rise to the grandeur of the occasion. 



