( 364. ) 



Upoii Glaciers^ Moraines, and Erratic Blocks ; being' the Ad- 

 dress delivered at the openingqf the Helvetic Natural History 

 Society, at Neuchatel, on the 24f/t of July 1837, by its Pre- 

 sident, M. L. Agassiz. 



Gentlemen, — It is now a considerable period since the 

 Neuchatel members of our Society have longed for the time 

 when they could invite their associates throughout Switzerland, 

 to congregate amongst them. Circumstances, however, over 

 which they had no control, and more especially the erection 

 of the building in which we are now assembled, and which is 

 intended for the reception of the various scientific collections, 

 have compelled them to delay this honour till they could prof- 

 fer it without inconvenience to their guests, and till they could 

 submit to their inspection a part at least of their museum. 

 Even now, in spite of the extraordinary exertions of the inde- 

 fatigable keeper of our museum, but a small portion of the 

 specimens are yet displayed ; they have likewise been arranged 

 •with haste ; and the workmen have scarcely quitted the pre- 

 mises. We therefore need your indulgence, but trust you 

 ■will not the less doubt the satisfaction with which we receive 

 you, and the high gratification it aflfbrds us. From our hearts 

 we gladly bid you welcome ! 



On such an occasion as the present, we are naturally led to 

 inquire. What is the bond which connects the different sciences 

 that are prosecuted by our Society ? I do not hesitate to affirm 

 that one grand idea pervades all the exertions directed to the 

 extension of the limits of these sciences ; — it is a belief of a 

 progressive development throughout creation, of a transforma- 

 tion extending through different states which are dependent 

 upon each other; — it is the conception of an intelligible crea- 

 tion, concerning which our task is to ascertain the relations in 

 all the phenomena which come under our observation. In this 

 view we may regard Astronomy, engaged with the formation 

 of the celestial spheres ; Chemistry, investigating the different 

 actions which bodies exert upon each other; Natural Philosophy, 

 appreciating the nature of those forces whose actions are ascer- 



