202 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



of Zoology and Geology," (Bibliotheca Zoologiw et Geologice,) in which he 

 gave a list of the works of the authors named in the former publication, 

 with such notices as they seemed to demand. It was published in Eng- 

 land in four large octavo volumes. 



But the work of these sev^euteen years is not yet all told. For nine 

 years Agassiz spent his summer- vacations among the Alps. He pub- 

 lished two very able works containiug the result of his observations, 

 and including the germs of his "Glacial Theory," which he afterward 

 announced, and which is now one of the greatest objects of interest to 

 the geologist. And still more : during fourteen of these seventeen years 

 he was x)rofessor of natural history in the College of - Keufchatel ; and 

 a most enthusiastic teacher he was. His fame became co-extensive 

 with civilization. The scientific societies and learned academies of both 

 the old world and the new hastened, in generous rivalship, to do them- 

 selves the honor of recognizing his unsurpassed merits as a student of 

 nature. The prizes of successful investigations and new discoveries 

 were received from kings and emi^erors. Learned degrees were con- 

 ferred upon him by the great universities of the continent and of 

 England. His name was a synonym for scientific genius, indomitable 

 labor, and brilliant achievement. Having become familiar with the 

 scenery and the flora and fauna, both fossil and living, which beautified 

 and inhabited the old world, or were buried in its sepulchers, a new world 

 was given him to conquer. 



In 1846, at the age of thirty -nine years, he received from the King of 

 Prussia, at the suggestion of Baron Alexander von Humboldt, a com- 

 mission to visit the United States, and make explorations in behalf of 

 science, and at the same time he received an invitation to come over and 

 deliver a course of lectures before the Lowell Institute in the city of 

 Boston. 



At this time there were very few scholars in the United States who 

 had given any special attention to the higher problems of zoology. 

 Most of the studies in regard to it had been confined to the description 

 and classification of new species, and there was not in all our colleges a 

 single chair devoted to instruction in this branch of natural history. 

 There was, however, an awakening attention to it 5 thestudy of the micro- 

 scope had been introduced, and the use of this instrument was beginning 

 to be applied to the verification of the discoveries which had been made 

 in Europe. Agassiz came at this period of awakening, bringing with him 

 a European reputation, miraculous stores of knowledge at perfect com- 

 mand, years of experience as teacher and out-door observer, with a most 

 winning and commanding presence ; fascinating as a lecturer, though 

 pronouncing our language quite imperfectly; magnetic in his influence 

 upon hearers, so that those who left his presence knew not which hiKl 

 most captivated them, the perfectness of his knowledge, the transparency 

 of his descriptions, or the warmth of his heart. 



His lectures were crowded. He took Boston, as it were, by storm. 



