560 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



sisted upon by Agassiz himself in opposition 

 to many who would have had it called after 

 him. To such honor as might be found in 

 connecting his own name with a public un- 

 dertaking of any kind he was absolutely indif- 

 ferent. It was characteristic of him to wish, 

 on the contrary, that the name should be as 

 impersonal and as comprehensive as the uses 

 and aims of the institution itself. Yet he 

 could not wholly escape the distinction he 

 deprecated. The popular imagination, identi- 

 fying him with his work, has re-christened 

 the institution ; and, spite of its legal title, 

 its familiar designation is almost invariably 

 the " Agassiz Museum." 



Mr. Gray's legacy started a movement which 

 became every day more active and successful. 

 The university followed up his bequest by a 

 grant of land suitable for the site of the build- 

 ing, and since the Gray fund provided for no 

 edifice, an appeal was made to the Legislature 

 of Massachusetts to make good that defi- 

 ciency. The Legislature granted lands to the 

 amount of one hundred thousand dollars, on 

 condition that a certain additional contribu- 

 tion should be made by private subscription. 

 The sum of seventy-one thousand one hun- 

 dred and twenty-five dollars, somewhat exceed- 



