i 4 r. /.OL'/s .l(JASS/Z. [CHAI-. xx. 



most affectionate nursing and tender attention from his 

 hostess. 



Dom Pedro Secundo, Emperor of Brazil, received 

 Agassiz in the kindest and most liberal and generous 

 manner. It was a great pleasure for him, a scientific 

 dilettante, to receive such a naturalist under his roof 

 and in his empire. Educated partly in Switzerland, 

 Dom Pedro had heard of Agassiz's researches on the 

 glaciers and on fishes ; and as his turn of mind was 



o 



decidedly scientific, he had read more of Agassiz's works 

 than any one else in Brazil. From their first meet- 

 ing the two men were friends. His Majesty enjoyed 

 Agassiz's immense store of knowledge/ his brilliant 

 spirit, and the charm of his conversation, while Agassiz, 

 on his part, was rather surprised to find a crowned head 

 so well instructed in geology, the glacial theory, and 

 other scientific questions. Dom Pedro rendered every 

 possible aid to the expedition ; and from the time 

 Agassiz put his foot on Brazilian soil until he left, the 

 Emperor showed his great interest in the success and 

 comfort of Agassiz and his party, and in these respects 

 he succeeded admirably. 



As soon as he arrived, Agassiz divided his party into 

 several smaller ones, some to go to the interior, others 

 to explore the coast ; and as usual with him, and at the 

 request of the Emperor, he delivered a course of lec- 

 tures, open to all, without charge, at the Collegio Dom 

 Pedro II, before a very large audience of gentlemen 

 and ladies, headed by the Emperor with his whole 

 family. Agassiz spoke in French ; and it was a giv;it 

 pleasure to him to address an audience in his native 



