4 The Life and Writings of Agassiz. 



others, Agassiz did not hesitate to quitthe fashionable Uni- 

 versity of Heidelberg for the rude capital of Bavaria. 



It is here that his scientific career commences. The four 

 years that he passed at the new University may be counted 

 among the most remarkable of his life. Although only a 

 student, his already extensive knowledge of Natural History 

 soon drew the attention of the professors, whose lectures he 

 eagerly attended. Friendships sprung up between him and 

 them, and the intimacy in which he lived with these chosen 

 men resulted in an increased enthusiasm for science, as well 

 as an extension of the field of his researches. 



With Martins he studied the organisation of plants, and 

 their geographical distribution acccording to climates and re- 

 gions of the globe. With Dollinger (in whose house he lived) 

 he penetrated into the sublime mysteries of the formation of 

 animals, and their development during the embryonic period. 

 With Oken he discussed the principles of Classification ac- 

 cording to the intimate affinities of things, based on a pro- 

 found study of their organization. 



Finally, with Schelling, he approached those questions of 

 the higher philosophy, which, in Germany, more than any- 

 where else, have, at all times, been the study of the greatest 

 minds, namely, the relations that exist between the imma- 

 terial essence of beings, and the laws of the physical world ; 

 in other words, between Spirit and Matter. The Pantheistic 

 theory was embraced at that time by many enlightened men 

 in Germany ; and, it is not surprising, that, supported by the 

 results of modern science, and professed under a new and at- 

 tractive form by an eminent man, who, freed from all party 

 considerations, presented it in all its grandeur, it excited the 

 enthusiasm of the young men who crowded round the chair 

 of this celebrated philosopher, already prepared for the doc- 

 trine by the writings of Goethe and Schiller. Agassiz, if we 

 are rightly informed, partook also of their opinions. It was 

 not until afterwards, that (as we shall show directly), having 

 commenced the study of former creations, he modified his 

 views, and unhesitatingly proclaimed, as the result of his in- 

 vestigations, the existence of a personal God, the Author and 

 Ruler of the universe. 



