Louis Agassiz. 



Mr. Agassiz begs me to say that he has the 

 greatest desire to further the project to the utmost 

 of his power, and only fears, as I have said, to fall 

 short of his own wishes, and the expectations of 

 those who are willing to entrust him with such a 

 responsibility." 



On the 3d of July Professor Agassiz wrote as 

 follows : 



For weeks past I have intended every day to 

 write you, but the fact is that just now I have 

 scarcely time to breathe^ and with the sincere desire 

 of accepting the invitation tendered to me through 

 you, I have been trying to free myself in some de- 

 gree of the tasks before me. It is not so easy to do 

 this as it seems. 



However, I write now to say that I will do my 

 best so far as it depends upon me, to make the anni- 

 versary of Humboldt worthy of his memory, and 

 serviceable to science in the country. The task will 

 be a difficult, and in some respects a painful one to 

 me, none the less because of my personal relations 

 with him. But I will do my best, and I beg you to 

 believe that the confidence placed in me by those 

 who wish to make this occasion a marked day, has 

 gratified and touched me deeply. 



I wish you would express this sentiment in my 

 behalf, and add that my great cause of hesitation 

 has been the fear that I might not satisfy the ex- 

 pectations of those who have thus honoured me. 

 Believe me. 



Ever truly yours, 



" Louis Agassiz/' 



