CHAPTER 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 



