1874.] 221 [Emerson. 



satisfying himself in regard to almost every question that 

 could be asked, as to structure or habits. Such a work will 

 not need to be done over again for many years. It can never 

 be entirely superseded except by a work showing greater dil- 

 igence, greater fidelity and better powers of nice observation 

 and faithful description. 



Let no one who has not carefully examined this, and his 

 other papers in the " Contributions to the Natural History of 

 the United States," x venture to speak of his incompleteness. 



His example as a teacher has been of inestimable value, as 

 showing the importance of the best and largest possible 

 preparation, teaching by things really existing and not by 

 books, opening the eye to the richness and beauty of nature, 

 showing that there is no spot, from the barren sea-beach to 

 the top of the mountain, which does not present objects at- 

 tractive to the youngest beginner, and worthy of, and reward- 

 ing, the careful consideration of the highest intellect. 



The town of Neufchatel, near which Mr. Agassiz was born, 

 and particularly the hills behind it, give fine views of natural 

 scenery. From a hill, not two miles from his former home, 

 I had a view of the lake and the plains and mountains be- 

 yond, which I now recall as one of the widest, most varied 

 and most exquisite, I have ever seen. Agassiz thus grew up 

 to a love of the beautiful. 



This love of the beautiful in nature has been increasing 

 from the most ancient times to the present. It is m ore gener- 

 ally felt and more fully enjoyed now than ever before, and in 



1 In speaking of the thorough execution of the work in these four volumes, we 

 ought not to forget the aid he received from the exquisite skill in drawing and 

 engraving of Sonrel, who wore out his eyes in the work, and of Burckhardt and 

 Clark. 



