The Agassiz Memorials. 253 



of his lectures and writings, but from that large- 

 heartedness which made him accessible to all. 



In his intercourse with his fellow-men, he gradua- 

 ted his speech not by the rank or station of the 

 person, for each and all were received with unmeas- 

 ured courtesy and kindness. 



Such intellectual breadth, moral excellence, and 

 estimable qualities as he possessed, are seldom found 

 in the same person ; and these made him not only an 

 impressive and attractive teacher, but, combined with 

 enthusiasm, inspired all with the desire to serve and 

 assist him ; hence, in part, that vast aggregation of 

 materialat Cambridge,beyond the capacity of the pres- 

 ent building for its proper arrangement and display. 



What wonderful progress has been made in our 

 country since the arrival of Agassiz, in 1846! Its 

 material wealth how enormously increased, broad 

 areas peopled, new States established, and the march 

 of empire pushed westward to the sea. At that 

 time, for the year of his arrival may be regarded as 

 a notable and important event in the history of the 

 country, within a few rods of this spot, the waters 

 of the Bay rippled along an almost untrodden beach. 

 Do you remember his concluding remarks at the 

 Academy^s rooms, on that September evening, a 

 little more than a year ago ? He said : " When I 

 saw to-day, for the first time, San Francisco through 

 the Golden Gate, I was amazed. I looked upon it as 

 one of the marvels of modern times that there 

 should be a city standing upon these shores, so grand, 

 so prosperous, so rich, and so young." Great and 

 manifold as are the changes we have noticed, great 



