206 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



his building during previous years: He had introduced into it all the 

 excellencies of the best museums of Europe, and added many which his 

 own experience had suggested. It was to cover three sides of a square, 

 and but half of one of the wings was to be undertaken at this time. He 

 would build as he needed, but permanently and perfectly for all coming 

 time. And when it was finished and filled with specimens, like the 

 widow's cruse of oil, everything was still full -, hundreds of precious 

 packages still unopened ; hundreds of capacious casks still untouched. 

 For once the great heart of Agassiz faltered 5 his hands fell helplessly 

 by his side 5 he stood still. The pause was but for a moment; the em- 

 barrassment was one of riches. He saw in vision the walls of the rest 

 of the wing arise, and he now set himself to accomplish it. He went to 

 the Amazon, sent out by a princely banker of Boston, who gave him a 

 carte blanche, to draw on him for what means he required. With an en- 

 thusiasm which consumed his- very life, regardless of exposure, shrinking 

 from no labor, he navigated and forded rivers, penetrated thickets, and col- 

 lected treasures for his future cabinets, which amazed himself and his 

 enthusiastic and laborious comi»anions,when they arrived at Cambridge. 



The legislature again aided him. Congress remitted the tariff ou 

 the alcohol needed for the preservation of his stores. With lecturing, 

 writing, collecting, arranging, his active brain grew dizzy, his broad shoul- 

 ders bowed, his firm step trembled. He must close his books ; he must 

 leave his laboratory 5 he must not read ; he must not think ; he must take 

 himself away from all inquiries, and rest. I met him in his exile at 

 the White Mountains when he was convalescing. He greeted me with 

 his usual cheerful heartiness, and thanked me with his usual cordiality 

 when I expressed a confident expectation of seeing him soon in the mu- 

 seum at Cambridge. But he never regained his former health. The work 

 at the museum, however, went on under his general supervision. The 

 addition to the wing was completed, the shelves, the cases, the jars all 

 filled, and still the masses of bis collections were hardly perceptibly 

 diminished. 



He was again working too hard. Arrangements were made to allure 

 him from his tasks in Cambridge by holding out to him greater attrac- 

 tions. He was invited by Professor Pierce to make a voyage in a Coast 

 Survey vessel around Cape Horn to San Francisco; and her com- 

 mander was instructed to give him such opportunities as he desired 

 for dredging in deep water, and making inland excursions when possible. 

 Accompanied by his wife and his intimate scientific friend, Rev. Dr. Hill, 

 ex-president of Harvard University, and one or two others, he per- 

 formed the voyage with his usual success in the line of new discoveries 

 and abundant collections. Landing at San Francisco, he was welcomed 

 with an ovation worthy of the head of a nation. Here his enthusiasm be- 

 came epidemic, and a scientific spirit was awakened which has resulted 

 in an endowment for its advancement of a million of dollars. He re- 

 turned to Cambridge much improved in health by his voyage, and gave 



