-1846.] GLACIAL THEORY IN PARIS. 265 



April, 1846, he discussed, with more care, if possible, 

 than usual, all the plain facts observed on the present 

 glaciers, as regards polishing of rocks, directions of 

 striated marks, " cailloux stries, boue glaciaire," trans- 

 portation of boulders, etc. For we must keep in mind 

 that everything was contested and often denied by 

 the opponents of the glacial theory. Agassiz had 

 before him, however, an audience suited to his wishes. 

 De Beaumont, the great adversary of glaciers, was 

 there ; also de Beaumont's collaborator and right arm, 

 Dufrenoy, besides some partisans of his own views, 

 among them Constant Prevost, Deshayes, Martins, Bra- 

 vais, Dollfus-Ausset, d'Omalius d'Halloy, and Major 

 Leblanc. It was a very important meeting, for Agassiz 

 was able to answer every objection. De Beaumont, 

 who was always very cunning when in the presence of 

 original and able observers, preserved a discreet silence, 

 and let all the heat of the discussion rest on Dufrenoy, 

 contenting himself with smiling and nodding his ap- 

 proval. It was a curious duel. Dufrenoy, always scep- 

 tical, but amiable, and rather inclined to be humorous, 

 asked if the " cailloux stries" were truly a good indica- 

 tion of the existence of old glaciers. "Yes!" was the 

 answer. " They are the characteristic fossils of a gla- 

 cier." Little by little, the audience of eighty persons, 

 all good geologists, came round to Agassiz's views. It 

 was a marked success ; so much so, that de Beaumont 

 left the room before the end of the meeting ; and 

 Dufrenoy, when the meeting was over, said aloud to 

 Agassiz, referring to his collaboration and compan- 

 ionship with de Beaumont during twenty-five years, 



