Emerson.] 212 [Jan. 7, 



sion for that purpose. On that commission four members of 

 this Society were placed ; the reports of three of whom, Dr. 

 Harris, Dr. Gould and Dr. Storer, have been, and still con- 

 tinue to be, considered of signal and permanent value, and 

 Mr. Agassiz himself regarded them as among the best re- 

 ports ever made. It has given and still gives me the great- 

 est satisfaction to know that the Society has been continually 

 going forward, and that it is now more prosperous than ever. 



A little more than twenty-seven years ago, as I was sitting 

 in my study, a message came to me that two gentlemen de- 

 sired to see me. They were immediately admitted, and Dr. 

 Gould introduced me to Louis Agassiz. His noble presence, 

 the genial expression of his face, his beaming eye and 

 earnest, natural voice, at once gained me, and I responded 

 cordially to his introduction. He said, " I have come to see 

 you, because Dr. Gould tells me that you know the trees 

 of Massachusetts ; I wish to be made acquainted with the 

 Carya. I have found the leaves and fruit of several species in 

 the Jura Mountains, where they were dej)osited when those 

 mountains were formed ; but, since that time, none have been 

 found living in Europe. I want to know them as they are 

 now growing." 



I told him that I knew all the species found in New Eng- 

 land, and should be glad to show them to him. "But I 

 have," I said, " presently to begin my morning's work. If 

 you will let me call on you immediately after dinner, I shall 

 be glad to take you to them." 



At the time fixed, I called on him at his lodgings and took 

 him, in my chaise, first to Parker's Hill, where one species of 

 hickory grew, then through Brookline, Brighton and Cam- 



