BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 219 



ADDRESS OF MR. ALEXANDER AGASSIZ. 



Mr. Alexander Agassiz was the next speaker. In the first 'part of his address he 

 mentioned the difficulties through which the Society had passed. An interesting extract 

 from his remarks is given below : 



The scientific man should be without nationality, ready to welcome progress from any 

 quarter. Science is bound neither by country nor creed in its relation to new. informa- 

 tion. An important publication, a new line of research, a brilliant hypothesis, should ap- 

 peal to us, not because it is American, German, French or English, nor because it is on 

 the winning side in the questions of the day. It is, of course, natural that a country com- 

 paratively young in scientific culture should turn to older institutions for its standards, 

 should be constantly tempted to compare its own learned societies and their doings with 

 those of more ancient date and established influence. But while measuring our progress 

 by theirs with honorable emulation, let us not make the mistake of also measuring our 

 scientific men by a reflected light only, making our own recognition of them wait upon 

 that from the other side of the water. Every nation should be proud of its great men, 

 and may be excused for overrating them, but it should also add to an excusable national 

 vanity an independence capable of recognizing, appreciating and sympathizing with the 

 men who are raising the intellectual standard of their country to that of older ones. The 

 pioneers of science in this country were neither remote imitators nor simply commen- 

 tators ; they have not only laid the foundations of natural science in this country, but they 

 have extended its boundaries on many fields. Nor should we assume that they had need 

 of a kind word of recognition from the other institutions or individuals. Let me not, 

 however, be understood for a moment as disparaging the intelligent criticism of press or 

 colleagues at home or abroad. I only wish to distinguish between that and the noto- 

 riety so easily gained by constant appeals to the 'public either in person or through 

 scientific quacks. 



Since, however, the true investigator rarely has either the time or the disposition to be- 

 come the expounder of his own work, it is not always possible for the public to draw the 

 line between those who speak from their own knowledge and the scientific litterateur who 

 forages in any field where booty is to be gained. We have met to-day to honor the pio- 

 neers of science in this country by a grateful recognition of what has been accomplished 

 from the small beginnings of fifty years ago. Taking up some of the more prominent 

 names of the early days of the Natural History Society we must award the highest place 

 to men like Wyman, Harris, Bigelow, Gould, Storer and Binney, whose investigations 

 have paved the way for their successors of the present day. They were men of no ordi- 

 nary stamp. They were men who in any country would have been recognized as leaders 

 in science, and whose fame will live when many of us are forgotten. 



The speech closed with a high tribute to the late President Wyman. 



