1868-70.] DEEr-SEA DREDGINGS. 175 



extent and in what direction further researches of the 

 kind were desirable in the same region, and likely to 

 furnish important information. ... It is a pleasure to 

 me to state that our cruise --extending farther to the 

 east in the Gulf Stream, between Cuba and the Bahamas 

 on one side, and Florida on the other, than those of 

 previous years - - confirmed in every feature the con- 

 clusion already reached by M. Pourtales. . . . Permit 

 me a suggestion. ... It would be appropriate and 

 just that this extensive coral plateau, the characteristic 

 fauna of which M. Pourtales has so faithfully explored, 

 should bear his name and be called the ' Pourtales 

 Plateau.' " 



The Boston Society of Natural History proposed 

 to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the birth of 

 Alexander von Humboldt on the I4th of September, 

 1869, and appointed Agassiz orator of the day. He 

 accepted the invitation with joy, and was grateful for 

 the honour, because, as he says, he " loved and 

 honoured the man." The address was delivered at 

 the appointed time, in the Music Hall of Boston, before 

 a crowded and brilliant audience comprising many per- 

 sons of the highest culture and distinction in New 

 England. 



The choice of Agassiz was eminently proper, not only 

 on account of the nature of the work done by Humboldt 

 in the New World, but also because of Agassiz's per- 

 sonal intercourse with him, which began when Professor 

 Oken wrote from Munich in 1829 to offer Agassiz's 

 services as an assistant for Humboldt's journey in 

 Central Asia. It was more especially during Agassiz's 



