Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-10-16
Napoleon M. and Agassiz-An Honor Declined.
The Boston Courier publishes the following interest

Napoleon mn. and Agassiz-An Honor Declined.
The Boston Courier publishes the following interest
ing correspondence
LETTER TO THE MINISTER PUBLIC INSTRUCTION AND
RELIGION
PARIS, August 49, 1857.
SIR: A chair OF paleontology is vacant in the
Museum of Natural History of Paris, by the death of
NJ dOrbigny. You are French you have enriched
your native country with eminent works and laborlous
researches you are corresponding member of the nst
tute The Emperor would be happy to restore to France
distinguished man of science renowned professor.
offer you in his NAME the vacant chair Your country
will deem herefhappy in recovering one of her children
the most devoted of science.
Be pleased to accept sir the assurance of my senti
~ ROULAND.
NJ AGAss1z Member of the Institute of France, Pro
fessor of Sciences Boston, United States Of America.
PROFESSOR AGAssH's REPLY.
To HIS Ercellency the Minister of Public Instruction
and Religion at Paris:
Monsieur lie Ministre After having passed the great
part of my life at distance from the great centres OF
science should have expected to receive the dis
tinguished honor which you have done me- by offering
me- in the Of the Emperor, the chair of Paeonto
ogy, at the Museum of Natural History in Paris.
The whole world considers the Jardin des Plantes
the most important establishment in existence for the
natural sciences. have therefore, felt the veest joy
in reading your letter. and in receiving by your offer the
proof so precious for me- that l not forgotten in
Europe.
= Unfortunately your proposition finds me unable to
accept it, for could not abruptly the ties which
for number of years have been accustomed to con-
slider binding for the remainder of my days to the
United States Moreover, | cannot suppose that the
instruction which entrusted to M. dOrbigny could
be interrupted for sufficient length of time to permit
me to finish certain embryologicaI labors which have
undertaken, with view of comparisons with the fossils
of the epochs anterior to own and which would lose
all their interest if they should be left incomplete.
find myself therefore, under the painful necessity of re
sing position which, in every circumstance | shall al
ways regard as the NEST brilliant to which naturalist
can aspire
1t may appear to you strange that [ should allow a
few ovues and embryos to wei in the balance which
is to decide for the remainder of my life but doubtless
it is to this absolute devotion to the study of nature that
indebted for the confidence of which you have just
given mark as signal as it is unexpected and it
is because would continue to merit this confidence for
the future that have taken the liberty of entering into
these details Allow me- Also to correct that
has been circulated in reference to myself | am not
French Although of French origin, my family has
been Swiss for centuries, and myself though expata-
ted for than ten years. have not ceased to be Swiss
beg your Excelency to receive with the reiterated
assurance of my lively regrets at my inability to accept
the chair that you offer me- the assurance of my high
consideration LOUIS AGASSTZ
Professor in the University of Cambridge,
United States of America.
CAMBRIDGE, September 25, 1857