46 LOUIS AGASSIZ. [CHAP. xiv. 



in a private letter, sued Agassiz for damages before the 

 court of justice at Albany. A rather long and expen- 

 sive trial followed ; and although Agassiz won his case, 

 and showed that a savant had a right to give his 

 opinion upon any published scientific subject, he was 

 considerably annoyed by the proceedings, and never 

 afterward recommended anything for publication. The 

 truth is, that both charts were poor, and the choice 

 between the two was rather embarrassing on that ac- 

 count. Agassiz's good faith, reputation, and friendship 

 have been too often used for money-making without 

 scruple, and not always for the good of science. 



