DEPARTURE FROM NEUCHATEL. 397 



he was taking a final leave of his cabin among 

 the rocks and ice. Affairs connected with the 

 welfare of the institution in Neuchatel, with 

 which he had been so long connected, still 

 detained him for a part of the winter, and he 

 did not leave for Paris until the first week in 

 March, 1846. His wife and daughters had 

 already preceded him to Germany, where he 

 was to join them again on his way to Paris, 

 and where they were to pass the period of his 

 absence, under the care of his brother-in-law, 

 Mr. Alexander Braun, then living at Carls- 

 ruhe. His son was to remain at school at 

 Neuchatel. 



It was two o'clock at night when he left 

 his home of so many years. There had been 

 a general sadness at the thought of his depar- 

 ture, and every testimony of affection and 

 respect accompanied him. The students came 

 in procession with torchlights to give him a 

 parting serenade, and many of his friends 

 and colleagues were also present to bid him 

 farewell. Mr. Louis Favre says in his Me- 

 moir, " Great was the emotion at Neuchatel 

 when the report was spread abroad that Agas- 

 siz was about to leave for a long journey. It 

 is true he promised to come back, but the New 

 World might shower upon him such marvels 



