158 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY OF PHYSICS AND 



great bonor for a young man of twenty-one years. Soon Agassiz turned 

 bis attention to fossil fisbes, tbe field of bis principal discoveries. For 

 bis studies in tbis direction be felt tbe need of examining larger collec- 

 tions tban bad yet come in bis way, and for tbis end, and also to perfect 

 bis medical education, be visited Vienna and Paris. 



In tbe latter capital be made tbe acquaintance of Cuvier, and also of 

 Humboldt, wbo was always ready to countenance and encourage young 

 students, and was, at tbe same time, mucb interested in Neucbatel, of 

 wbicb tbe King of Prussia was prince and in some sort suzerain. I 

 bave bad tbe pleasure of reading several letters addressed by Agassiz 

 and Humboldt to M. Louis Coulou, of Neucbatel. Witb tbe permission 

 of tbis bonorable gentleman I will give a few extracts. We will see from 

 tbese tbat Switzerland was indebted to bim for tbe establisbment of 

 Agassiz witbiu ber borders for fourteen years, a circumstance wbicb bad 

 an important influence, not only upon bis own labors, but also tbose of 

 bis compatriots. M. Louis Coulon was assisted in attaining tbis end by 

 bis fatber, a mercbant of long standing, a generous friend of science, 

 wbo bas given important collections to tbe city of Neucbatel. 



Agassiz to M. Louis Coulon. 



" CoPEAU Steeet No. 4, Paris, 31arch 27, 1832. 



* * * "I bave bad tbe good fortune, I will not say to merit, but 

 to win tbe good-will of M. Cuvier, wbo bas placed at my disposal all 

 tbe objects I wisbed to examine. He bas extended to me a generosity far 

 beyond wbat a young man of my age ougbt to expect, wbo bas as yet 

 done but little for science. You bave seen tbe materials I bave collected 

 for tbe bistory of fossil fisbes; you know also tbat on my departure for 

 Paris I was afraid I would not be able to examine tbe specimens in tbe 

 museum witb all tbe freedom I desired, and I felt all tbe more sure of 

 sucb restriction because M. Cuvier bad announced a work upon tbis 

 important subject, wbicb be proposed to publisb as soon as be bad fiu- 

 isbed bis great bistory of fisbes. M. Cuvier, bowever, not only allowed 

 me to describe, compare, and draw^ from all tbe skeletons of existing 

 fisbes and all tbe fossils wbicb are disposed in tbe galleries, but placed 

 in my bands all tbe material be bad bimself collected for bis own work, 

 and even all tbe drawings be bad ordered to be made at tbe Britisb 

 Museum and elsew^bere ; and, baving otber important matters to occupy 

 bis attention after tbe completion of bis work on tbe living fisbes, and 

 considering tbat I would acquit myself sufQciently well in tbe task I 

 had undertaken with the fossils, left me to fill up tbis gap alone. You 

 may imagine bow such encouragement inspires my zeal, and witb what 

 ardor 1 pursue my work, Tbis is one of tbe reasons why I refuse to 

 see any one here, in order that my mind may not be distracted. 



* * * " Wbenin tbe courseoflastsummerl bad tbe pleasureof see- 

 ing you I several times expressed to you my great desire to be settled near 

 you, and my intention to endeavor to obtain the chair of natural history 



