A LOUIS AGASSfZ. [CHAP. xm. 



can audiences, and his popularity grew at a pace 

 which much astonished him. One clay in January, 

 1848, he was approached by some of his friends, 

 among them most particularly Mr. John A. Lowell, - 

 to know if a permanent professorship at Harvard Col- 

 lege would be acceptable. His answer at first was a 

 little hesitating ; but the breaking out of the French 

 Revolution in February, 1848, and the consequent great 

 commotion all over the continent of Europe, including 

 a revolution at Neuchatel and rioting in Berlin, removed 

 all his doubts; and he accepted the chair of zoology and 

 geology, established specially for him by Mr. Abbott 

 Lawrence, a Boston gentleman, who at this time founded 

 the Lawrence Scientific School, in direct connection with 

 Harvard University. 



Never was a more happy appointment made at Har- 

 vard ; it was a red letter day for the old university ; 

 for not only did Agassiz bring with him his unique 

 reputation as a great naturalist, but his example of 

 originating and urging forward new projects soon revo- 

 lutionized the whole institution. Indeed, no one did 

 so much to prepare for the new era of prosperity, and 

 t<> increase the facilities of instruction, now so success- 

 fully organized and maintained under the presidency of 

 Ur. Charles W. Kliot. But further, his children have 

 since become the greatest patrons and benefactors of 

 the university ; for, taken altogether, they have already 

 given not far from one million dollars, -- the largest 

 amount received from one family. 



After his acceptance of the Harvard professorship, 

 Agassi/, with 1'ourtales, sailed for Charleston, South 



