I847-49-] HfS SUCCESS AS A LECTURER. 25 



already held in America as a scientific leader. On 

 May 17 the Boston Society of Natural History dedi- 

 cated a new building in Phillips Place, at which time 

 the Annual Address was delivered by Dr. D. H. Storer. 

 The new building was very well suited in every respect 

 to the wants of the society, and was filled to its utmost 

 capacity, in expectation of hearing a speech by Professor 

 Agassiz. At the conclusion of the vice-president's 

 address, Agassiz made remarks on the future progress 

 of the natural sciences in America, insisting on the 

 excellent opportunity offered by the political disturb- 

 ances in Europe, where progress was forcibly suspended 

 for some time to come. If strenuous and sacrificing 

 efforts are made now, he said, they will soon bring 

 results which will place America in the position hitherto 

 occupied by Europe, Tremendous applause from the 

 great audience proved that the American scientific 

 public highly appreciated Agassiz's endeavours to pro- 

 mote the cause of American science. 



The second occasion was the ninth annual session of 

 the Association of American Geologists, held the 2Oth 

 of September at Philadelphia. An organic change in 

 the name and purpose of the society had been proposed 

 at its last meeting at Boston, the year previous, and an 

 enlarged constitution embracing all sciences, somewhat 

 on the same plan as that of the British Scientific Associa- 

 tion for the Advancement of Sciences, had been framed 

 by a committee of three, Agassiz being one, and we may 

 say the leading member ; for he had assisted at several 

 meetings of the great British association in England, 

 and had even presided over the Societe Helvetique des 



