26 Boston Society of Natural History 



event in the Natural History of the country. The example of his 

 character, his disinterestedness, his consecration to Science, his readi- 

 ness to oblige even the humblest and most modest, his superiority 

 to self-interest, his sincerity and absence of all pretensions, his en- 

 thusiasm in all that is noble — all these recommended not only him 

 but the Science he professed. Never was a life more richly filled 

 with study, work, thought ; and all was consecrated not to the bene- 

 fit of himself but to the promotion of science for the good of his 

 fellow-creatures." 



How Louis Agassiz came to America 



[LETTER FROM SIR CHARLES LYELL TO MR. GEORGE TICKXOIl] 



London, March 1, 18J/5 



My dear Mr. Tickxor. 



I am trying to negotiate with Mr. Lowell for a course of lectures 

 from the celebrated ornithologist and Swiss naturalist and writer 

 on glaciers for 1845-46, but perhaps all are filled up. Charles Buona- 

 parte, Prince of Canino, has offered to take him to the United States, 

 as he visits it with his son this year. I am sure Mr. Lowell will do 

 it if he can, as I have answered for his English being passable. You 

 will be much pleased with Agassiz, and his visit will be most useful 

 as it always is to us when he comes here. The British Association 

 has thrice voted him sums of money to describe our fossils.* 



Lines addressed to Agassiz on his fiftieth birthday by Longfel- 

 low: 



It was fifty years ago 



In the pleasant month of May, 

 In the beautiful Pays de Yaud, 

 A child in its cradle lay. 



* Life of Sir Charks Lyell, vol. ii. p. til. 



