CHAPTER IX. 



1837-1839: ^ET. 30-32. 



Invitation to Professorships at Geneva and Lausanne. 

 Death of his Father. Establishment of Lithographic 

 Press at Neuchatel. Researches upon Structure of Mol- 

 lusks. Internal Casts of Shells. Glacial Explorations. 

 Views of Buckland. Relations with Arnold Guyot. 

 Their Work together in the Alps. Letter to Sir Philip 

 Egerton concerning Glacial Work. Summer of 1839. 

 Publication of " Etudes sur les Glaciers." 



ALTHOUGH Agassiz's daring treatment of 

 the glacial phenomena had excited much oppo- 

 sition and angry comment, it had also made a 

 powerful impression by its eloquence and orig- 

 inality. To this may be partly due the fact 

 that about this time he was strongly urged 

 from various quarters to leave Neuchatel for 

 some larger field. One of the most seductive 

 of these invitations, owing to the affectionate 

 spirit in which it was offered, came through 

 Monsieur de la Kive, in Geneva. 



