1836-37-] HJS LITHOGRAPHY. 117 



have heard Laurillard speak of him with the same 

 respect as if Cuvier had been in the room. With 

 Agassiz, all his assistants became so familiar and so 

 much on an equality, as to raise the question who was 

 truly the master and director. 



Finding constant difficulties in regard to the execution 

 and correction of the plates for his " Poissons fossiles," 

 it was natural that Agassiz should desire to have a good 

 lithography established at Neuchatel. But such an 

 establishment in so small a town as Neuchatel then was, 

 was a very hazardous undertaking ; for it was certain 

 from the beginning that the only customer of any con- 

 sequence for a great lithography would be Agassiz, and, 

 with his small salary, although raised from $400 to $600, 

 it was almost an act of folly to establish a lithography; 

 more especially since he was also obliged to pay fqr 

 all his printing. The man chosen was a Neuchatelois 

 from La-Chaux-de-Fond, named Hercule Nicolet; a good 

 lithographer, or artist rather, but as devoid of business 

 capacities as Agassiz. The lithography was established 

 at the end of 1836, aux Sablons, above the city of 

 Neuchatel, just at the place where the railroad station 

 now stands. The establishment soon increased, about 

 twenty persons being employed there, and turned out 

 perfect work. But, from the beginning, it was evi- 

 dent that other publications with plates, besides the 

 "Poissons fossiles," the " Echinodermes," and the 

 " Poissons d'eau douce," must be undertaken to keep 

 such a large establishment in work. And Agassiz, un- 

 practical as he was, resolved to publish a German and 

 French edition of " Sowerby's Mineral Conchology of 



