450 A" GOOD WORD FOR AGASSIZ. 



I perceptive organs of sucli men. It is, I should say, a 



^"^[eaS of remarkably harmonious development, and not 



singular in its appearance, unless it be a singularity that 



it is not yet bald, but covered with long thin white 



hair. 



" The conversation ran on numerous topics. He had 

 just received a pamphlet published by one of our astrono- 

 mers, Mr. G., in which Sir John Herschel is attacked. 

 This he regretted, and made some remarks on the favour- 

 able opinion Herschel had always had of America, and 

 her scientific men. He inquired with interest after Mr. 

 Bache, and his progress towards the survey of our coasts, 

 and seemed quite familiar with the state of policy his 

 appointment had produced among the gentlemen of the 

 navy. ' The navy officers always object to an appoint- 

 ment of that kind when not made from their own number, 

 no matter how competent and efficient the person may 

 be.' Speaking of Professor Agassiz, he said, ' You 

 Americans have made a fine acquisition there. Agassiz 

 would be distinguished, even in Europe, for his attain- 

 ments in various branches of natural history. Perhaps 

 he is a little too unbending in his theory of the effect of 

 glaciers on the change of the general climate of the world. 

 However, he has thrown a great deal of light on that 

 subject, having made personally many very excellent 

 experiments and observations.' The mention of glaciers 

 led naturally to that of persons who had explored them, 

 and of exploring voyages to the north. One of us asked 

 his opinion as to the fate of Franklin. He thought it 

 quite probable that Franklin had not perished, but was 

 still shut in by the ice, and gave several facts of voyagers 

 whom he had seen, and who had been for long seasons 



