1858-64.] HIS COLLECTIONS IN CAMBRIDGE. 83 



Scientific School of Harvard University, that there 

 were no collections in Cambridge with which to illus- 

 trate lectures upon geology and zoology, and that no 

 provision had been made to obtain such collections by 

 purchase or otherwise. Therefore, from the first day 

 of his arrival at Cambridge, he was incessantly planning 

 and continually adding to his private collection, sure 

 that although not a dollar had been provided yet, and 

 no suitable place existed, building and money would 

 come. He himself was heavily in debt, and in addition 

 had to provide for the daily expenses of a numerous 

 and complicated household. Never did a man display 

 such an amount of skilful diplomacy, - - not diplomacy 

 of the ordinary kind but natural history diplomacy, 

 peculiar to the man, as well as peculiar to the end 

 he wanted to attain. No one else could have suc- 

 ceeded, no corporation however strong and influen- 

 tial could have executed the plan he conceived alone 

 and carried out alone, against all odds and constant 

 difficulties. He never despaired of final success, al- 

 though he sometimes became despondent, under press- 

 ure of illness, or of political troubles, or of dissensions 

 among his assistants and pupils. What courage ! 

 Never was there such a valiant promoter of the prog- 

 ress of natural history. 



The first money which came to him was the twelve 

 thousand dollars mentioned before, raised by private 

 subscription under the initiation and direction of the 

 treasurer of Harvard University, Mr. Samuel Eliot, 

 the distinguished father of the present President of the 

 University. Then, in 1858, Mr. Francis C. Gray of 



