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Louis Agassis. 



opinions. He was not more fortunate than other 

 men of science in escaping the attacks of bigotry and 

 superstition ; but now and then, hke a church-bell 

 tolling on a Sabbath morning, deep utterances would 

 come forth expressive of his faith. For example, 

 at the close of his essay on " Classification,'' occurs 

 this passage : All the facts proclaim aloud the one 

 God, whom man may know, adore, and love ; and 

 Natural History must in good time become the 

 analysis of the thoughts of the Creator of the uni- 

 verse, as manifested in the animal and vegetable 

 kingdoms.'' (Contributions to Natural History of 

 the United States,) 



Thus we see that the supreme kindliness, charm- 

 ing enthusiasm, genuine gratitude, unmistakable 

 sincerity, uniform co-operation, incessant desire to 

 diffuse as well as to advance knowledge, and devout 

 reverence, were among his most conspicuous qualities 

 as a teacher. I do not dwell upon his love of truth, 

 for that is fundamental with all real men of science ; 

 nor on his abstinence from money-making, for all 

 legitimate university life precludes the professor 

 from wild speculations on the one hand, or from 

 regular business responsibilities on the other ; nor do 

 I dwell upon his love of studies remote from their 

 practical bearings, for the student of Nature never 

 knows what profound benefits to mankind may pro- 

 ceed from the most abstract research. In these 

 respects I do not know that Agassiz differed much 

 from other naturalists, but in native gifts, and in the 

 acquisitions of varied culture, there are but few to 

 be compared with him. 



