1846-47-] O.V BOARD THE "BIBB." 297 



passed quickly, and his visitors left him charmed 

 with what they had heard and seen. Boston felt proud 

 of the acquisition of a naturalist of genius, while Agassiz 

 was delighted to have excited an interest among persons 

 so intelligent and refined in taste. 



During the heat of summer, Mr. Lowell, always 

 attentive to the comfort and welfare of Agassiz, invited 

 him and his assistant, Desor, as his guests, to visit 

 Niagara Falls and the great rapids of the St. Lawrence 

 River. The impression of this grand and picturesque 

 region, combined with the finding of glacial scratches 

 everywhere, and the sight of many zoological specimens, 

 especially fishes, created in Agassiz an admiration and 

 an enthusiasm difficult for any one not a naturalist to 

 realize, and from that moment he was resolute to conse- 

 crate the remainder of his life to the study of the natural 

 history of the New World. 



Returning to Boston, he received an invitation from 

 Professor Bache to join in a cruise along the shores of 

 Cape Cod and the island of Nantucket, on the coast- 

 survey steamer Bibb, commanded by Lieutenant (after- 

 ward Admiral) Charles Henry Davis, U. S. Navy, who 

 was then employed in surveying the bay of Boston, 

 an excursion which passed for Agassiz like a dream of 

 the Thousand and One Nights. In one day, as he says, 

 he learned more than in months from books or dried 

 specimens. It was a new opening for his never-ending 

 activity of spirits and schemes. A most intimate friend- 

 ship grew up with both Professor Bache and Lieutenant 

 Davis from that first cruise, and lasted as long as they 

 lived, and in them Agassiz found, not only sympathizers, 



