Dear Sir!

I have been some two months occupied by geology in different small places of Central & South France and only two days ago in the Museum of Perigueux. I found the last Number of Gervais’ Journal of Zoology announcing Huxley’s death.¹ This is really hard to bear and it did strike me as if I had lost a brother. This is certainly the greatest loss not only for Science but for human progress in General, which could occur,— Huxley, Hancock, Phillips— what a mourning year for Zoology.² You will greatly oblige me by favouring me with a line giving some particulars of this most unhappy event.— Besides I know Professor Huxley had no large private means and a considerable family, will the Government do something to place the family above the reach of want or will it be done by private subscription as in the case of Sars;³ in this latter case I will take the liberty to observe that M^r Huxley was not only an Englishman but a member of the great Republic of Science and all scientific men of all countries may take a right to take part in raising a fund for the family of one of their first leaders. For my part I have a belief that should such a suscription really be organised we could hope for a large sum from scientific people in our country beeing suscribed, as Huxley was very popular in Russia.—

Excuse the incoherent manner of this letter, I write it in a great hurry. The last time I have been taken up with the investigation of some freshwater deposits of the chalk and I have large Cyrenas, Unio and Melaniae from the Gault upwards to the White Chalk period.—⁴

I am alone in Paris and will return in a few days to Berlin, but please adress Your letter—Paris Rue Linné 31 bis, au 1^r.

Your truly | W. Kowalevsky