32 LOUIS AGASSIZ. [CHAP. n. 



cember, 1830, after settling all his accounts and expen- 

 ditures, taking with him his draughtsman, Dinkel, to 

 the great amazement of his father, who did not relish 

 the arrival of his son's friend at his new parsonage at 

 Concise, whither he had just removed from Orbe. His 

 protest, that there was no room for another person, was 

 of no avail. Louis wrote him that Dinkel was not in 

 his pay, but was provided for by his publisher, M. 

 Cotta, and that an agreement had been made for him 

 to accompany Agassiz in future wherever he should 

 go. Accordingly, one morning in December, 1830, he 

 arrived with Dinkel, who was lodged in the neighbour- 

 hood, and came every day to Louis's room to draw 

 fishes. 



The parsonage of the village of Concise is beautifully 

 situated close to the north of the church, with a ter- 

 race and garden overlooking the Lake of Neuchatel, and 

 commanding some of the most beautiful and extensive 

 scenery in Switzerland. The room occupied by Louis 

 Agassiz was on the first story, according to the way 

 of counting stories in Switzerland ; the second story, 

 according to the American way, at the southeast corner 

 of the parsonage, close by the churchyard. There he 

 was seen constantly at the window, with his long mous- 

 taches, smoking, and hard at work with specimens. 



The arrival of the parson's son, with his draughts- 

 man, both dressed more or less as German students, 

 with small caps on their heads, and long pipes in their 

 mouths, greatly excited the curiosity of the quiet vil- 

 lagers. On Sunday they used to row on the lake, and, 

 with long poles, passed their time in breaking the pot- 



