14 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



German, with compositions on a variety of 

 topics, the writing is even and distinct, with 

 scarcely a blot or an erasure. From the very 

 beginning there is a careful division of sub- 

 jects under clearly marked headings, showing 

 even then a tendency toward an orderly classi- 

 fication of facts and thoughts. 



It is evident from the boyish sketch which 

 he drew of his future plans that the hope of 

 escaping the commercial life projected for 

 him, and of dedicating himself to letters and 

 learning, was already dawning. He had be- 

 gun to feel the charm of study, and his sci- 

 entific tastes, though still pursued rather as 

 the pastimes of a boy than as the investiga- 

 tions of a student, were nevertheless becom- 

 ing more and more absorbing. He was fif- 

 teen years old and the time had come when, 

 according to a purpose long decided upon, he 

 was to leave school and enter the business 

 house of his uncle, Frangois Mayor, at Neu- 

 chatel. He begged for a farther delay, to be 

 spent in two additional years of study at the 

 College of Lausanne. He was supported in 

 his request by several of his teachers, and 

 especially by Mr. Rickly, who urged his par- 

 ents to encourage the remarkable intelligence 

 and zeal already shown by their son in his 



