UNIVERSITY OF HEIDELBERG. 19 



From Zurich, Agassiz went to the Univer- 

 sity of Heidelberg, where we find him in the 

 spring of 1826. 



TO HIS FATHER. 



Heidelberg, April 24, 1826. 



. . . Having arrived early enough to see 

 something of the environs before the open- 

 ing of the term, I decided to devote each day 

 to a ramble in one direction or another, in 

 order to become familiar with my surround- 

 ings. I am the more glad to have done this 

 as I have learned that after the lectures begin 

 there will be no further chance for such in- 

 terruptions, and we shall be obliged to stick 

 closely to our work at home. 



Our first excursion was to Neckarsteinach, 

 two and a half leagues from here. The road 

 follows the Neckar, and at certain places rises 

 boldly above the river, which flows between 

 two hills, broken by rocks of the color of red 

 chalk, which often jut out from either side. 

 Farther on the valley widens, and a pretty 

 rising ground, crowned by ruins, suddenly 

 presents itself in the midst of a wide plain, 

 where sheep are feeding. Neckarsteinach it- 

 self is only a little village, containing, how- 

 ever, three castles, two. of which are in ruins. 



