LIFE. IN PARIS. 163 



Plantes not two hundred steps away ; while 

 the Hospital (de la Piti^), where Messieurs 

 Andral and Lesfranc teach, is opposite, and 

 nearer still. To-day or to-morrow I shall de- 

 liver my letters, and then set to work in good 

 earnest." 



Pleased as he was from the beginning with 

 all that concerned his scientific life in Paris, 

 the next letter shows that the young Swiss did 

 not at once find himself at home in the great 

 French capital. 



TO HIS SISTER OLYMPE. 



Paris, January 15, 1832. 



. . . My expectations in coming here have 

 been more than fulfilled. In scientific mat- 

 ters I have found all that I knew must exist 

 in Paris (indeed, my anticipations were rather 

 below than above the mark), and beside that 

 I have been met everywhere with courtesy, 

 and have received attentions of all sorts. M. 

 Cuvier and M. Humboldt especially treat me 

 on all occasions as an equal, and facilitate for 

 me the use of the scientific collections so that 

 I can work here as if I were at home. And 

 yet it is not the same thing ; this extreme, 

 but formal politeness chills you instead of 

 putting you at your ease ; it lacks cordiality, 



