1836-37-] WOLLASTON MEDAL. 73 



Fossil Fish, 11 arriving as it did opportunely at a moment when the 

 funds which could be appropriated for the undertaking were nearly 

 exhausted. Mr. Agassiz acknowledged at the time his obligation 

 to us for a mark of sympathy and regard which he received so 

 unexpectedly from a foreign country, and which cheered and ani- 

 mated him to fresh exertions. The Council, in now awarding the 

 Medal to him, are desirous that he should possess a lasting testi- 

 mony of their esteem and of the high sense which they entertain of 

 the merit of his scientific labours. 



It was a well-deserved reward, received when quite a 

 young man, in his thirtieth year only, - - which did 

 honour to the Geological Society of London as well as 

 to the recipient. Never since has the Wollaston Medal 

 been bestowed on so young a naturalist ; his is a unique 

 case, and as such is recorded on the List of Awards 

 of the Wollaston Medal. 



In 1834, at the meeting of the Helvetic Society of 

 Naturalists, at Lucerne, Jean de Charpentier, Director 

 of the Salt Works at Bex, Canton de Vaud, had read a 

 short paper entitled, " Notice sur la cause probable du 

 transport des blocs erratiques de la Suisse." Seldom, if 

 ever, has such a small memoir so deeply excited the 

 scientific world. It was received at first with incredulity 

 and even scorn and mockery, Agassiz being among 

 its opponents. Its publication, however, a year later, 

 and again eighteen months later, in the " Annales des 

 Mines" of Paris, Vol. VIII., p. 219, and in the " Biblio- 

 , theque universelle ' of Geneva, Vol. IV., p. I, with a 

 German translation by Julius Froebel and Oswald 

 Heer, in " Mittheil. aus dem gebiete der theoret. 

 erdkunde," p. 482, Zurich, attracted much attention, 

 and the smile of incredulity with which it was received 



