THE HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL. 39 



essaries for the preservation of specimens will be 'or- 

 dered, and may be bought at cost. The preparation 

 for these collections will not lead to any considerable 

 expenditure, and is optional. 



"Very truly yours. 



"L. AGASSIZ. 



"P. S. Should you be prevented from coming, 

 give me early notice as there are many waiting for a 

 vacancy." 



I regret, very much, that I am unable to discover 

 among my papers the circular containing the course 

 of instruction, and the names of the instructors, as 

 laid out for this first year of the Penikese Island 

 School. It would be both valuable and interesting. 

 I prefer giving such papers entire, when possible; but 

 as in this case it is impossible, I will describe to you 

 briefly our course. 



The programme for Penikese (or "Pune, " as it is 

 sometimes called) hardly differed from that which had 

 been previously prepared for the Nantucket School. 

 The former certainly possessed many advantages over 

 the latter, yet the main purpose and aim of the 

 "course" remained unchanged. 



Throughout the Summer we had daily lectures from 

 Professor Agassiz upon Natural History, and upon 

 Geology; and his talks on the glaciers and the glacial 

 theory, of which he may now justly be called the 

 father, were full and very interesting. 



Then a generous citizen of Boston donated to the 

 School a fine yacht, for sailing and for dredging pur- 

 poses, and the "Sprite," under the direction of that 

 able Naturalist and seaman, Count Pourtales, carried 

 dredging parties almost daily, or as often as the weather 

 would allow, throughout the season. What material 

 was thus presented for study! What splendid collec- 

 tions we made! How hard we worked to please Pro- 

 fessor Agassiz! 



Our lectures, the more important ones at least, were 

 given in the early morning and in the latter part of the 

 day. 



