LETTER TO SIR PHILIP EGERTON. 311 



shows that Agassiz felt his views to be slowly 

 gaining ground among his English friends. 



LOUIS AGASSIZ TO SIR PHILIP EGERTON. 



London, November 24, 1840. 



... Our meeting on Wednesday passed 

 off very well ; none of my facts were dis- 

 turbed, though Whewell and Murchison at- 

 tempted an opposition ; but as their objec- 

 tions were far-fetched, they did not produce 

 much effect. I was, however, delighted to 

 have some appearance of serious opposition, 

 because it gave me a chance to insist upon 

 the exactness of my observations, and upon 

 the want of solidity in the objections brought 

 against them. Dr. Buckland was truly elo- 

 quent. He has now full possession of this 

 subject ; is, indeed, completely master of it. 



I am happy to tell you that everything is 

 definitely arranged with Lord Francis,^ and 

 that I now feel within myself a courage which 

 doubles my strength. I have just written to 

 thank him. To-morrow I shall devote to the 

 fossils sent me by Lord Enniskillen, a list of 

 which I will forward to you. ... 



^ Apropos of the sale of his original drawings of fossil 

 fishes to Lord Francis Egerton. 



