58 



Louis Agassiz. 



geologist fully appreciated the struggles of the young 

 Swiss, as in his letter he added : In the mean time 

 I am desired to tell you that the Society declines 

 to receive your magnificent work as a gift, but 

 wishes to subscribe for it, and has already ordered a 

 copy from the publishers. . . 



The prize overjoyed Agassiz who was still ex- 

 tremely poor, and in a letter to Lyell he said that 

 the news was received with tears of joy and grati- 

 tude. He was not ashamed of his poverty and said 

 so, having spent his last franc on his scientific work. 

 The publication was received everywhere with great 

 enthusiasm, and to-day, nearly sixty years later, has 

 never been equalled for its thoroughness and the 

 care displayed in the preparation. The title was 

 Researches on the Fossil Fishes, 



For ten years, from 1833 to 1843, Agassiz laboured 

 upon it, and when it is remembered how young a 

 man he was, the work is a marvel, suggestive of the 

 brilliant genius from which it emanated. 



