Waterston.] 232 [January 7, 



That one act of Humboldt, at the turning point in the life 

 of Agassiz, may have affected the whole course of his after 

 career. If Sir Humphrey Davy could say " My best discov- 

 ery was Michael Faraday," — what shall we say of this dis- 

 criminating instance of generous encouragement, which per- 

 haps gave to us Agassiz as a man of science ! 



In the address upon Humboldt, Agassiz speaks of his 

 studies at Munich, whose University 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 professors 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 Philippe, 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 lectures regularly ; I had frequently 

 the pleasure of sitting by his side, and being the recipient 

 of his passing criticism." At this period, Humboldt had 

 his working-room at the Rue de la Harpe. "There," con- 



