New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-27
A LIBERAL GIFT TO SCIENCE.
AGAssIZs SCHOOL FOR NATURAL HISTORY.
HIS APPEAL TO THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE
RESPONDED 10 By A CITIZEN on NEw-YORK.
To the EdtLor Of The Trtbuns.

port OF address made Dy frof ARassH 10 the massa
chusetts Legislature, tho occasion Of their visit to
tho Museum OF Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, in
the course OF which he expressed his views 10 the
formation Of q Summer school tor tho instruction OF
school teachers I'm natural history the first session OF
which he proposed 10 hold during the ensuing Summer,
at Nantucket THE TRIBUSEs publication Of Prof Agas-
szs programme for the latter enterprise and details Of
s interesting character attracted the attention or one
OF your wealthy citizenship. John Anderson. the well
known tobacco manufactrer-and rightly believing
the island OF PenIkese, which belonged 10 him, and
which had been for several years hs Summer resort TO
be Admirably adapted tho purposes Of the proposed
school, the following day commissioned two gem
temen proceed TO Cambridge and TO tender to Prof
Agassz ft Of the foe simple Of Penikese, with It's im'
provements and buildings as permanent location for
the proposed institution. II Is needless to say that an
Offer at once 80 unsolicited and generous, mme-
datey accepted by Prof Agassz, who thus found what
at he had considered but experiment converted
into permanence.
This gift, in itself sufficiently munincent Mr. An
dersOn has since generously increased by the addi-
ton pecuniary donation OF $4,000 as the nucleus OF
a perpetual endowment fund BY this princey act the
proposed school springs at into life upon basis OF
permanence and independence such az Prof Agassz In
his widest dreams had never yentured to anticipate.
The island Of Ponlkese, which will become the future
domice OF the proposed institute, Is one OF the Eliza
beth group islands, situate at tho entrance OF Buz
contains about 100 acres, and presents advantages
which peculiarly adapt 1t TO the purposes contem-
plated by Prof. Agassiz It's situation In the ocean,
within easy access of the main land, secures privacy
and freedom from intrusion while its wonderful fer
tty will enable the Institution to maintain itself almost
within its own domain Mr. Anderson, since his pur-
chase Of the island some years ago. has expended large
sums in buildings and improvements, and the COM
mercia value of the whole property may be considered
little short OF 100000 His endowment may therefore be
considered a. equivalent to $4,000 append the cor
respondcnce OF the subject. T.
Boston, March %, 1873.
THE FIRST GIFT-PENIKEsE IsIASD-PRoF. AGAsSH
ACCEPTS II IN THE INTERESTS OF SCIENCE.
CAMBRIDGE, March is, 1873
JOHN ANDERSON. esq.
My DEAR SIR: Ii seems to me impossible TO
than accept the great gift you Offer II
changes at experiment without fixed location or
stable foundation into permanent School Tor the study
OF Nature such the world has not seen before II
have doubt in my mind it Is because there may be
practical difficulties In the way which am personally
unable to meet have long cherished the thought of
Summer School like the proposed, ana have rat
various my life tried it with small classes and
for a few days weeks at time The idea OF estao-
Lslng at Nantucket, on a larger scale, was sug-
had special taste and no little experience in this kind
OF teaching. Failure OF health has obliged him to 20
faS naturally into my hands Cad thought that the
arranging plan OF Summer instruction IN natural
History founding OF Lectures TO be gwen by my
self aud others, and being from time to time on the spot
10 see that all went WELL would be quite wthln my
strengh and that the minor questions such as pro-
yding for the board and lodging OF such persons as
might come, would be easily arranged III Town IKE
Nantucket and might indeed, be left In great degree
to themselves.
At Pcnikese Island, however. must live like large
Accommodation must be provided within the precincts
island itself for those who come. and however
simple the mode OF lie adopted welIOrdered domestic
economy will be required: Inc pupils VINO
would resort 10 such an Institution have usually
small means. IL would therefore be an essential
condition OF that everything should be organ
ICED the cheapest basis consistent with comfort
have neither health strength nor time Ior more Inan
the general direction of the scientific work and am
managed. However even should be obliged 10 limit
the undertaking at first to such accommodations as the
begin it Nantucket or at any other place where we
have no certainty OF carrying &c on summer ailea
and progress. In the interest OF Science gratefully
accept IT, and will do all that can 10 found school for
naturalists with which name will always be asso
eiated. and when will Introduce into our system or edu-
cation the element IL 80 much needs-a familiarity with
N''ui'' WV" ''''' '~'N' ''''''' Is AGAssIz
THE SECOND GIFT-PERMANENT ENDOWMENT FUND
OF S5O,OOO-MR. ASDERsoN5 ANXIETY To FACu-
rTATE THE SUCCESS oP THE INSTITUTION
NETWORK, March 10, 1879.
Prof LOUIS AGAssiz, Director Of A"ss'm' Cambridge.
Mass.
My DEAR SIR: have received your letter
OF the 18th inst announcing your acceptance of Penkese
Island permanent location for the Summer School OF
Natural History which Is desire to found in con-
nection with the Museum OF Comparative Zoology at
Cambridge and say, with the utmost sincerity,
that no act OF my life has afforded me so much gEitca-
ton as TO have given what seem to consider sub
stantial foundation institution fraught with so
much promise OF intellectual improvement aud general
usefulness as that in contemplation
Business occupations, commenced at very early
period OF my life, and continued unceas.sly and abOr
ously to date not yet remote have prevented Inc in
grest measure from acquiring in my own person many
OF the 1seds which spring from an intimate acqualDt
ance with that department Of Science OF which you have
20 conspicuous an ornament andto which you nave
been long time devoted, in the service OF TINS
country; but appreciates more highly than do
the advantages to be derived rom an etsenso9
or general knowledge throughout inns country, ana
especially knowledge OK that science when
enables mankind 70 utilize nature In ALMOST every de1
hope that this gift Of Penkese may become as you
10 believe it WILL the basis OF permanent foundation
which, under your able direction, may be destined in fu
re ages only afford the required instruction TO
the youth OF our own country but may De tue means OF
attracting to our shores candidates from the
Old World who may ind here, IN the school about to be
founded by you, those means oil bttng themselves LOT
the teaching OF Natural History from Nature herse
which, by strange oversight appear so have been over
looked In the schemes generally Wel conceived and
executed Of education there.
You refer in your letter to practical difficulties that
present themselves in the way OF the complete reaza
ZION of your views arising OF che peounlary require
ments which such institution would necessarily in
vOve Ihaye not overlooked this feature in the scheme
and prepared TO tender my assistance in over
coming this difficulty. Will place at your disposal
of $4,000, to be invested the nucleus OF per-
manent endowment fund, that the interest may
be- ever after available for the support and
maintenance OF the Institution. Thi5 sum will place
your hands at the time with the delivery of the
deed for the island which deed shall be prepared and
executed the terms OF settlement shall have
been definitely arranged
learn from Mr. GIrod that you have expressed wish
to mark your appreciation OF my gift of Penikese for the
purposes ~ The institution by naming the latter after
feel necessarily deeply battered by this offer aud
only say IN reference 10 1t that leave that part Of
the question entirely In your hands, simply suggesting
whether an institution, the initiation OF which has been
wholly the result Of your own industry aud which must
depend for success mainly your own labors should
not more APPLY receive its designation from name
which has become almost household word wherever
science Is known and OF Louis Agassz
shA be nanny To eXeOIe decd for The lslAnd IN snch