CHAPTEK XVI. 



1850 - 1852 : ^t. 43-45. 



Proposition from Dr. Bache. — Exploration of Florida Reefs. 

 — Letter to Humboldt concerning Work in America. — Ap- 

 pointment to Professorship of Medical College in Charles- 

 ton, S. C. — Life at the South. — Views concerning Races 

 of Men. — Prix Cuvier. 



The following letter from the Superintend- 

 ent of the Coast Survey determined for Agas- 

 siz the chief events of the winter of 1851. 



FROM ALEXANDER DALLAS BACHE. 



Webb's Hill, October 30, 1850. 



My dear Friend, — Would it be possible 

 for you to devote six weeks or two months to 

 the examination of the Florida reefs and keys 

 in connection with their survey ? It is ex- 

 tremely important to ascertain what they are 

 and how formed. One account treats them 

 as growing corals, another as masses of some- 

 thing resembling oolite, piled together, bar- 

 rier-wise. You see that this lies at the root 

 of the progress of the reef, so important to 



