272 



Louis Agassiz. 



henceforth to be an American citizen. This declara^ 

 tion was received with most enthusiastic demonstra- 

 tions of rejoicing. 



I am happy the resolutions now submitted recog- 

 nise his adopted citizenship. An incident that has 

 come to my knowledge within the last hour has 

 given me great pleasure, as illustrating the patriot- 

 ism of the man. A mutual friend said, Professor 

 Agassiz, it fills me with gratitude every time I think 

 of your declining the very flattering proposition 

 that was made to you from the court of France.'' 

 To which he replied : Yes, and do you know, 

 that proposition was renewed to me after the war 

 began, and I replied with more earnestness than 

 before, if I loved my adopted country too much 

 to leave it when all was peace, I certainly shall 

 not leave it now, when a shadow has come over 

 its prospects.'' 



In the resolutions adopted by different scientific 

 and literary institutions throughout the country, 

 much prominence is given, and rightly, too, to the 

 irreparable loss sustained by the decease of this pre- 

 eminent man of science. 



While we sympathise most fully with that senti- 

 ment, there is another consideration that should not 

 be overlooked. I refer to the kind Providence that 

 has given to the world such a man, preserved his 

 life to mature years, and enabled him to accomplish 

 so much as he has done for the science, not only of 

 the day and of this country, but of the age and 

 world. 



