CHAPTER IV. 



1832-1835. 



AGASSIZ'S FIRST ESTABLISHMENT AT NEUCHATEL FOUNDATION OF THE 

 "SOCIETE DES SCIENCES NATURELLES," ON THE 6ra OF DECEMBER, 

 1832 AN OFFER OF A CHAIR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HEIDELBERG 

 DECLINED -- LETTER OF HUMBOLDT ENGAGEMENT OF ALEXANDER 

 BRAUN WITH Miss CECILE GUYOT AND THAT OF KARL SCHIMPER 

 WITH Miss EMMY BRAUN BROKEN OFF - - MARRIAGE OF AGASSIZ 

 WITH Miss CECILE BRAUN -- PUBLICATION OF THE FIRST PART OF 

 THE "FossiL FISHES" FIRST VISIT TO ENGLAND IN 1834 " MON- 

 OGRAPHIE DES ECHINODERMES " - - DES MOULINS'S WORK ON THE 

 SAME SUBJECT CRITICISMS OF HUMBOLDT AND VON BUCK SECOND 

 VISIT TO ENGLAND IN 1835 BIRTH OF A SON FOUR LETTERS TO 



PlCTET AND NlCOLET. 



IN November, 1832, Agassiz was established at Neu- 

 chatel as professor of natural history in a small college, 

 at a salary of eighty louis (about $400), and with an 

 appointment of only three years' duration. What 

 tempted him greatly was the opportunity to live in 

 Switzerland, near his family, complete independence 

 in regard to his teaching, and a belief that, notwith- 

 standing the small salary, the expenses of living were 

 so much less than in large cities like Paris or Munich, 

 that $400, or 2000 francs, would " keep him above actual 

 embarrassment." Independence he got ; and indepen- 

 dence was a strong trait in his character, and one which 

 explains several of his otherwise rather peculiar deci- 



5 



