i.; LOUIS AGASSI/.. [< IIAI-. xm. 



the plaintiff, fixing the indemnity at a thousand dollars. 

 The defendant moved for a new trial ; and the case 

 was definitely adjudged by his honour, Peleg Sprague, 

 as follows: "The jury must have made a mistake. 

 The verdict cannot stand in its present form. I shall 

 give the plaintiff his election to remit five hundred 

 dollars, or to take the opinion of another jury." The 

 decision was accepted ; and Lieutenant-commander 

 Charles H. Davis was obliged to pay Desor five hun- 

 dred dollars, besides his hospitality on board the United 

 States steamer Bibb, his very generous treatment dur- 

 ing Desor's stay, and his many acts of kindness during 

 1848. 



After this performance, Desor, who had remained in 

 America during 1849, 1850, and 1851, constantly caus- 

 ing as much annoyance as possible to his old benefactor 

 and chief, had no alternative but to return to Europe, 

 which he did in March, 1852, publishing, as a last 

 Parthian arrow against Agassiz, his pamphlet, " Trial 

 of the Action of Edward Desor, Plff., versus Charles 

 11. Davis, Deft.," etc., Boston, 1852. 



We have here a rare example of ingratitude in one 

 who was elevated from nothing to a recognized place 

 in the scientific world, and then turned against the hand 

 which raised him from his obscurity and poverty. 



Agassiz's first course of lectures at Harvard Univer- 

 sity was largely attended, not only by the regular stu- 

 dents, but also by law students and several professors 

 and instructors of the college and Scientific School. As 

 soon as it was finished, Agassiz started to explore Lake 

 Superior, accompanied by ten students, two gentlemen 



