The Indianapolis daily herald. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1865-1868, 1865-11-02
rnoVEssoK aGAssuz' EXPEDITION

Profound interest has been excited in scientific
and popular eiicles in this country and iu Eng
land by the expedition oil Professor Agassiz 10
Brazil: bat in consequence of his aversion to
toriety and vi The severe labOrs in which the
scientific corps usder his direction las oeen en-
gagged. no definite account of his movements, 50
important 10 science, has been received in this
country. In conversation with Rev. j. T. Fle,-
cher. who has just returns ed from South America
We have obtained sofe interesting particulars
Of the progress vi the expedition. the publication
! Of which, We hope. Is no violation of privacy.
On the hfst vi April last Professor Agassiz aud
his assistants left New York in the pscifc Mail
Steamship Companys steamer Colorado. aud
after a pleasant voyage oi three weeks reached
Rio Janeiro. The Emperor Of Brazil who had
been in previous correspondence with Agassiz, J
no sooner heard OF bis arrival than he sent a
message to him to come TO the Palace of 81.
Christopher, where the Professor was received
with the warmth OF an old friend. the Emperor
welcoming him IN person with great cordalty,
and placing at his disposal every facility for al
saneing his important mission.
On the 25th vi April, when the solar eclipse
took place, Agassiz. at the EmpeFor's invitation,
spent the day with him in the observatory Of the
palace. The conversations vi that day caused
the Professor to remark that all the previous ac
counts OF the accurate and really abtruse seien-
ttc requirements OF the Emperor were entirely
confirmed; aud he Was heard To say that, while
L had been his fortune 10 many Of the mon
arehs OF EHrope, the Emperor OF Brazil was the
hrst for whom he had felt respect for his attain
ments aud character, as transceuding Official Do
sion. Ii WAS not however. in the seientic point
Of view alone that Agassiz admiration Was ex-
cited. but II was TO iud IN the Emperor the
most aeuIaIe knowledge OF oYr current litera
ture, aud high moral tone when speaking Oh
such subject OF slayefy--a snbjeci in regard 10
which the Emperor. by his deeds and expressions.
has left no uncertain sound.
Nor was il only in the imperial circle that
Agassiz found warm and cordial greeting Every
public Journal hailed his coming; his rooms were
besieged with Brazilian noblemen. senators, de
puties and other citizens, offering their services.
His laboratory where he and his assistants were
engaged IN putting up for the great museum OF
Cambridge the innumerabe specimens that flow
ed ia from all sides was also the scene OF visi
tors, who did not interrupt the important work
IN hand.
Many courtesies from foreigners As we'll as
brazlians were extended TO Agassiz aud his wife
the latter especially received marked aud gra-
ufying attentions. The Swiss residents OF Rio
de Janeiro. on the occasion OF the Professors $
hfty-nlnth birthday, gave him festival, which is
described BY Mr. Fletcher As having been most
enthusiastic. The iEtertwned flags, shields of
Switzerland and America, and the sympathetic
} speeches OF the Swiss, showed that their sym
pathy had been with our Governments during the
war LoDgfellow's poem ITO Agassiz on his
I httieth birthday read, and produced pro-
found emotion
These personal attentions, however, did not
hinder the great purposes for which the expedi-
! ton went to Brazil We have already referred
to the vast collection of specimens, many Of
them new 10 science. Agassiz had not been
fortnight in the country before he discovered
what be confidently predicted before he lett the
United States, namely. evidences that in some
remote period the glaciers. tie great ice rivers,
and moving plains had flowed over the present
home Of the most tropical nation in the world
In these palm covered mountains around Rio de
Janelro he found erratie boulders and deposits
OF glaciers as IN Switzerland. Norway and Swe-
/ deo bis last great opponent, Sir Roderick Muir
Gibson, has already acknowledged in public that
AgassZ was right in his predictions and inyest
/ cations OF glaciers in Great Britain, and geoIo-
gists, both natives and foreign now in Brazil, have
recognized that Agassiz is correct in regard 10
the glaciers in the tropics. though they had failed
as well as ST. Hlllaire, Dr. Gardiner, and other
naturalisls 10 observe these striking facts until
the investigation OF the Swiss glaciers pointed
out within the tropic Of Capricorn unmistakable
evidences of the great snow-storm which once
covered the globe.
Numerous minor discoveries of great impor
| tance TO scientific men have been made, but the
accounts oil these will be published in time BY
Agassiz himself. They sill give clear idea OF
the vast mineral riches anu other resources of
Brazil Perhaps the most important tact in u
commercial point OF view is his cOnhrmalien oil
The existence in Brazil OF coal OF the true car
boaierous era. Brazil has hitherto received all
her coal. at great expense. from England: but a
few years ago Mr. athsniel Plant, an EnglisL
ge0lOgist, found, on the northwestern border OF
Rio Grsnde de Sui vast .uantitie. oi coal. " hieh
has been pronounced by Agassiz from the fos
sis which the coal contains TO be OF the most
valuable quality. destined 10 add immensely to
! the richness OF the country.
The expedition in June aud July divided iuto
several parties two Of which exploring the
interior while tue one under The immediate 81
pervision of Professor Agassiz * exploring
7 the Amazon aud its branches in q steamer placed
/ the al the disposal OF Professor by the Embervr
Ghe a