172 John Bach man. 



gained the summit. The scene was picturesque, as 

 group after group — to the number of a thousand, 

 were seen winding their way around the mountain. 

 All appeared to be gay and happy. 



On the eve of his departure from Freyburg, Dr. 

 Bachman sent a communication to this Society, a 

 fragment of which has been preserved. It reads thus: 



In the course of a tour tlirough Europe for the 

 benefit of health, I was so fortunate, as unexpectedly 

 to have been with you at your interesting anniver- 

 sary meeting. 



In compliance with the wishes of the members of 

 your Society, and with the desire to draw the Nat- 

 uralists of both countries into a closer bond of union, 

 I consented to lay before your Association an ac- 

 count of the progress, and the present state of Natural 

 Sciences in the United States. I intended to make 

 only a verbal statement, as well as I was able, in 

 your own language. I find now that my limited 

 time compels me, before the next meeting of your 

 Society, reluctantly to leave this delightful retreat 

 of men of science of Germany and Europe. 



Permit me to express to you the profound emo- 

 tions of pleasure, with whicli I witnessed, for the 

 first, and probably, the last time in my life, so large 

 a meeting of eminent men, Avho were laboriously en- 

 gaged in the cause of science. I felt it a privilege, 

 even for a day, to sit down with those who were in- 

 vestigating the wonderful works of nature's God. 

 How delightful to me was the change, from the perils 

 and solitude of a long sea voyage, to your romantic 

 hills and beautiful Himmelricli. 



In a letter from his friend, John G. Morris, D. D.» 

 dated a few months later, we find the following: 



