The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-08-02
RICH III M0ED, VA,
THURSDAY MORNING ....... AUGUST ?, 1855
NATURAL HISTORY OF THE U. STATES

NATURAL HISTORY OF THE U. STATES
We invite the attention of the advertise.
ment of LITTLE & Brown, of Boston, rela-
tive to the Contributions of PROFESSOR
AGAssIz to the Natural History of the United
States This great work will perhaps exceed
in interest any ever yet published on the
Natural History of this country. 1t will be
comprised in ten volumes quarto, at Sl2 per
volume. Each volume will be complete in
itself, and will contain about 800 pages, and
at least 90 plates. About one volume per
annum will be issued, so that it will require
about ten years to complete the work. Pro-
fessor AGAssIz is one of the greatest devo-
tees of science that ever lived. His career
in this country has displayed his zeal in its
pursuit and development in a remarkable man.
ner. A correspondent of the Boston Daily
Advertiser, over the initial E., whom we sup
pose to be Mr.. EDWARD EVERETT, says:
Professor Agassiz has not only performed with
great assidui,y the duties of bis chair 10 Cam.
bridge by lectures 10 the various departments of
natural science and by bringing together a mu
scum of natural history not probably excelled. II
eoualled, by any Ia the world, for the number
AID value of the specimens contained In several
of ire departmentr but he has delivered courses of
lectures in several other places, with and without
compensation; has appeared gratuitously at teach
era institutes aud educational meetings of every
kind; has rsversed extensive regions of the Uuion
for the purpose of making original researches,
and has taken active part 10 the proceedings of
our learned societies. Ia addition to this he has
b4en in extensive correspondence with the men of
science in this country and In Europe, for the ex-
change of specimens. and friendly intercommu-
nication of the RI suits of their common labors-
Nor has this immensely laborious life prevented
the eminent natura list from the diieent record and
classification of bis materials II we are not great
ly misintormed, bis portfolios exhibit an amount
of labor In the delineation and description of the
various objects of natural history, which would
SEEM of itself, enough to employ all his time and
attention.
Professor AGAssIz has employed great
part of his time in lecturing at the South and
explorations there in search of animals, both
water and land His work on the Lakes
prov likewise his undefatigable labors at the
other extreme of the Union. In his plain and
unassumiDg prospectus of the great work
to be published, he says:
sit is a matter of course, that work like this,
illustrated by large number of plates, cannot be
published without liberal and extensive patron.
age As 1t has been prepared solely with the view
of throwing additional light upon the wonderful
diversity of the animal creation of this continent
Its structure, and Its general relation to the other
parts OF the world, without the slightest hope of
compensation for myself, trust may meet with
the appreciation of the conversant with the i'm
portapce of the subject, and receive sufficient en-.
couragement from the enlightened part of the com
muui.y to enable me to bring to q successful close
an undertaking upon which enter now and In this
form for no other purpose than to contribute to.
wards increasing the love of nature among u.s.