The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-10-31
Tuesday Morning, Oct. 81, 1855.
Professor Agagsia il Brain.

Rev. J. G. Fletcher, who has recently re.
turned from Brazil, furnishes the New York
Eoenisag Post with additional information
concerning Mr.. Agassiz's movements. Fol
the emperor, who is a man of great scientific
attainments, Mr.. A. has great admiration. He
not only devotes great attention to science
but is liberal in his views, possesses most ac-
curate knowledge Of our current literature
and, in regard to slavery, by his deeds and
his expressions, has left no uncertain sound.
The Swiss residents of Rio Janeiro, ON the
occasion Of the professors fifty-ninth birthday,
gave him a festival, which is described by Mr..
Fletcher as having been most enthusiastic.
The intertwined flags, shields of Switzerland
and America, and the sympathetic speeches Of
the Swiss showed that their sympathy had
been with our government during the war.
Longfellowa poem "To Agassiz, on his fifsieth
birthday" was read and produced profound
emotion.
Concerning Mr.. Agassiz's scientific explora-
tions, the Post says
He had not been fortnight in the country
before he discovered what he confidently pre-
dicted before he left the United States: viz. !:
evidence that in some remote period the ola
ciers, the great ice rivers and moving plains.
had flowed over the present home of the most
tropical nations in the world In those palm
covered mountains around Rio de Janeiro he
found erratic boulders and deposits OF glaciers
as in Switzerland, Norway and Sweden. His
last great opponent, Sir Rodcricl Murchison,
has already acknowledged in public that
Agassiz was right in his predictions and inyes-
legations of glaciers in Great Britain: and ge-
ologists, both native and foreign, now in Bra
I'll, have recognized that Agassiz is correct in
regard to glaciers in the tropics, though they
had failed, as well as St Hillaire, DIR. Gardner
and other naturalists, to observe these strik-
ing facts until the investigation Of the Swiss
glaciers pointed out within the tropic Of Cap-
ricorn unmistakable evidences OF the Great
snow storm which once covered the globe.
Numerous minor discoveries or great irnpor-
tance to scientific men have been made. but
the accounts of these will be published in
time by Agassiz himself. They win give
clear idea of the vast mineral riches and other
mineral resources of Brazil. Perhaps the
most Important commercial point of view is
his confirmation of the existence in Brazil of
coal OF the true carboniferous era. Brazil has
hitherto received all her coal at great expense
from England; but few years ago MI Ma
thaniel Plant, an English geologist, found on
the southwest border of Rio Grande dc Sui
vast quantities of coal, which has been pro-
nouneed by Agassiz, from the fossils which the
coal contains to be of the most valuable oual-
ty, destined to add Immensely to the riches Of
the country e.1ss ,tE 2
Iue expedition in June and July divided in
to several parties, two Of which are exploring
the interior, while the one under the immed:-
ate supervision Of Professor Agassiz is now
exploring the Amazon and its branches, in
steamer placed at the Professors disposal by
the Emperor. -.
The Eceniiag Transcript has the following /:
A short time after the Professor arrived at
Rio, he was invited by the Emperor and the
President Of Pedro LII. College, to deliver a
course of lectures on the glacial theory, in
the French language. The Hall was the Reeer-
ton Hall Of the Pedro Segundo College-a
room which contains 600 people, Agassiz re-
fused any compensation. On each evening of
the four lectures 1900 people SOUGHT adnis-
sion. The most distinguished professional
men, nobemen and statesmen, were there !:
the Imperial family refusing to be seated on
the usual ddis, took seats democratically with
the audience. 1t is said Agassiz was never
before SO eloquent as While in his native Ian
guage, discoursing in city where a popular
lecture had never previously been given.
At the close of the first lecture the Profess
sor, in his frank way, said that he would be
glad to answer any objections or difficulties in
regard to the glacial theory. Upon this arose
gentleman of some learning whose translat-
ed name would be DR. Oak) who proposed
certain objections. The result was the bland
est and most complete refutation of the OBJ
jector. But the BGzar VoIdnte the "Puncbvl
of Rio de Janeiro, next week came out with a
most beautiful portrait Of Agassiz, in the form
Of giant standing amidst Alps and glaciers,
while at his heel was an acorn-headed Lillipu-
tian, with the branch of an oak endeavoring
to upset the giant. There is no explanation
beyond big II and an &. Fl is dagG in the
Portuguese, while K is slteec sees. Hence the
picture and letters read, "The little oak en-
deayors to upset the great Agasses"