162 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



That one act of Humboldt, at the turning point in the life of Agassiz, may have affected 

 the whole course of his active career. If Sir Humphrey Davy could say " My best dis- 

 covery was Michael Faraday," — what shall we say of this discriminating instance of gen- 

 erous encouragement, which perhaps gave to us Agassiz as a man of science. 



In the address upon Humboldt, Agassiz speaks of his studies at Munich, whose Uni- 

 versity had opened under the most brilliant auspices, and where nearly every professor 

 was prominent in some department of science or literature. " These men," he says, 

 " were not only our teachers but our friends. We were the companions of their walks 

 and often present at their discussions." " My room," he adds, " was our meeting-place, bed- 

 room, study, museum, library, lecture-room, fencing-room, all in one. Students and pro- 

 fessors used to call it the little Academy." 



It was at this time that Humboldt was preparing for his Asiatic journey. Agassiz was 

 anxious to accompany him, and asked that he might join the expedition as an assistant. 

 This was the beginning of his personal acquaintanceship with Humboldt. 



A graphic picture is presented of the student's life in Paris, in the days of Louis Phil- 

 ippe, when Cuvier, just the age of Humboldt himself, was active and ardent in research, 

 his salon frequented by statesmen, scholars and artists. 



Cuvier was then giving a course of lectures, in the College of France, on the History 

 of Science. "Humboldt," says Agassiz, " attended these lectui^es regularly; I had fre- 

 quently the pleasure of sitting by his side, and being the recipient of his passing criti- 

 cism." At this period, Humboldt had his working-room at the Eue de la Harpe. 

 "There," continues Agassiz, "it was my privilege to visit him frequently. There he 

 gave me leave to come, to talk with him about my work, and consult him in my difficul- 

 ties." 



At this time Agassiz was twenty-four years of age, and Humboldt sixty-two. 



" I had recently," says Agassiz, " taken my degree as Doctor of Medicine, and Avas 

 struggling, not only for a scientific position, but for the means of existence also. I have 

 said that he gave me permission to come as often as I pleased to his room, opening to me 

 freely the inestimable advantages which intercourse with such a man gave to a young 

 investigator like myself. But he did far more than this, occupied and surrounded as he 

 was, he sought me out in my lodging." 



Here he gives a most interesting account of a visit from Humboldt, at Agassiz's narrow 

 quarters, in the Hotel du Jardin des Plantes. After which is an invitation from Humboldt 

 to meet him at the Palais Eoyal, — where they dine, — "a rare indulgence," says Agassiz, 

 "for a young man, who could allow himself few luxuries." " Here," he adds, "for three 

 hours, which passed like a dream, I had him all to myself How he examined me, and 

 how much I learned in that short time ! How to work, what to do, and what to avoid ; 

 how to live, how to distribute my time ; what methods of study to pursue ; these were the 

 things of which he talked to me, on that delightful evening." 



When we reflect upon the extended reputation acquired by Agassiz before he left 

 Europe ; of that visit to this country which led him gladly to adopt it as his home, and of 

 the untiring zeal with which he devoted to it the best years of his life ; shall we not hold 

 in grateful remembrance the man who gave to him, at the most critical moment, the cor- 

 dial hand of friendship, and who by his cheering words, inspired fresh ardor, and a hope 

 which no after trial could extinguish ? 



