The Agassiz Memorials, 233 



Hence he laid a broad basis for his scholarship. 

 Ancient and modern languages, philosophy, human 

 anatomy and physiology, botany, mineralogy, geol- 

 ogy, and zoology, were all pursued with such enthu- 

 siasm, that in any of these departments he might 

 have been distinguished. 



So was he qualified to teach — by natural endow- 

 ments, personal presence, honourable ancestry, 

 narrow circumstances, prolonged culture, and broad 

 foundations. What, now, were the consequents of 

 such antecedents — the superstructure on such a 

 foundation ? 



There was supreme kindliness or self-control in 

 his disposition, which led him to be patient with 

 ignorance, and what is harder yet, with arrogance; 

 which made him generous in bestowing his time, 

 his learning, and his letters upon others ; which made 

 him accessible to the most timid student, or the 

 most humble discoverer of a curious bug. 



To this was added a charming enthusiasm, which 

 gushed forth in no spasmodic intermittence, but 

 bubbled up perpetually with refreshing effervescence. 

 He captivated all whom he met. He made them 

 believe that his work was his play ; that they might 

 engage in it with a surety of reward. He seemed to 

 say perpetually to his associates, as Faraday said to 

 Tyndall, under untoward circumstances : Our sub- 

 jects are so glorious, that to work at them rejoices 

 and encourages the feeblest ; delights and enchants 

 the strongest.'' 



Genuine gratitude was. also conspicuous in all he 

 did. The school-boy who brought him an uncommon 



