1 873.] WHFTTIER^S POEM. 203 



tory, opens visions before me such as I had never dared 

 to indulge in connection with this plan." 



On the 22d of April, in company with members of 

 the city government of New Bedford and a number of 

 invited guests, he visited the island to take formal pos- 

 session, where the party was cordially welcomed by 

 Mr. and Mrs. Anderson-r Under these circumstances 

 Agassiz first met Mr. Anderson, and for the first time 

 saw what was to be one of his future laboratories in 

 the cause of natural science. The ceremony of the 

 transfer took place in the house of Mr. Anderson, his 

 solicitor reading the deed of conveyance. 



Agassiz returned from his visit, delighted with the 

 island and its surroundings. He at once ordered a 

 building for the laboratory, upon which work was im- 

 mediately begun, and by the 8th of July the building 

 was ready for the reception of fifty persons, and the 

 school of natural history commenced on the appointed 

 day. The lecture-room was an old barn, and there Agas- 

 siz, with bared head, called the pupils to join him in silent 

 prayer. Whittier's poem on this subject is as follows : 



THE PRAYER OF AGASSIZ. 



On the isle of Penikese, 



Ringed about by sapphire seas, 



Fanned by breezes salt and cool, 



Stood the Master with his school. 



Over sails that not in vain 



Wooed the west-wind's steady strain, 



Line of coast that low and far 



Stretched its undulating bar, 



Wings aslant along the rim 



Of the waves they stooped to skim, 



