342 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



open to women as well as to men. This would 

 naturally be expected, from the broad-mindedness 

 of the man, and the respect he must have had for 

 the capacity of woman, from such a mother and 

 such a wife. ^ He had great sympathy," says Mrs. 

 Agassiz, "with the desire of women for larger and 

 more various fields of study and work." To such 

 men women can never be too grateful. 



In 1863, he helped to organize the National 

 Academy of Sciences. He frequently gave lectures 

 in the large cities, using the money for the further 

 development of the museum. 



In 1865 he started, with his wife and several 

 assistants, for sixteen months of scientific investi- 

 gation in Brazil, the expenses borne by his friend, 

 Mr. Nathaniel Thayer, of Boston. He writes to 

 his mother, 



"All those who know me seem to have combined to 

 heighten the attraction of the journey, and facilitate it in 

 every respect. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company have 

 invited me to take passage with my whole party on their 

 fine steamer, the Colorado. They will take us, free of all 

 expense, as far as Rio de Janeiro, an economy of fifteen 

 thousand francs at the start. ... I seem like the spoiled 

 child of the country, and I hope God will give me strength 

 to repay, in devotion to her institutions and to her scientific 

 and intellectual development, all that her citizens have done 

 for me. . . . With all my heart, 



" Your Louis." 



The story of this expedition has been told, 

 chiefly by Mrs. Agassiz, in that most interesting 

 volume, " A Journey in Brazil." 



