1 847-49.] JACQUES BURKHARDT. 5 



money in his pocket, and without an acquaintance. He 

 was, however, soon helped by a Neuchatel merchant, 

 established at New York, --M. Diacon, and succeeded 

 in making a humble living by drawing pictures on 

 shades, and washing and mending old oil paintings. 

 . Agassiz was in complete ignorance of what had 

 become of Burkhardt since he left the glacier of the 

 Aar and Neuchatel in 1843. But Burkhardt, learning 

 through the newspapers that Agassiz was delivering a 

 course of lectures, gladly called on him and told his 

 pathetic history, his attitude and appearance amply 

 proving that life in the streets of New York under such 

 conditions was a difficult one to endure. Agassiz, always 

 open-handed and generous, received his old artist with 

 great kindness, and offered him a home, on the single 

 condition that he should draw his zoological specimens. 

 The unfortunate artist was only too ready to accept any 

 offer, or, more correctly, any arrangement, which prom- 

 ised a living ; and with that lack of specific agreement 

 which always characterized Agassiz's connection with 

 his assistants, he resumed his position as draughtsman, 

 and was brought by Agassiz to East Boston, on his 

 return from New York, at the end of November, 1847. 

 This hap-hazard association lasted until the death of 

 Burkhardt, and is the only one, of all those formed in 

 the same way, during the life of Agassiz, which remained 

 undisturbed. 



As soon as he had returned to Boston, Agassiz 

 delivered another course of lectures before the Lowell 

 Institute. His success increased with his facility in 

 the use of English. He had entirely conquered Ameri- 



