The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-16
Death of Aga SSH.


The telegraph brings It's the painful Intel.
Ngcucc of the death, on Sunday last, of LOUIS
John RupoLru AGA>sIz. His family was
French; but lie was born in switzerland OH
the 2Slh Of May, 1907. He was III bis
xty-scvcnth year. His education was be.
gun III Beuue, continued at Bernie, Lall-
sapuc, and Heidelberg, aud completed II
Munich. He pursued his studies afterwards
under he instruction Of leading scientists Of
Europe. He came to the United states in
lsiG, and from that time his fame was made
10 this country. III II be was appointed
professor of geology and ZOOLOGY in the scien'
tic school at Cambridge, and this he held
Until his death, except IN interval OF two
years, during which he Wa, professor of
comparative anatomy in the Charleston Is.
c. Medical College. lie devoted himself
a;,tvntIy 10 The pursuit Of his farorte science,
delivering lectures in several cities.
IN Europe be had risen to the position Of
equality with tue foremost men i'll lis
branch OF science. He was The author Of
several works Of emiDcucr, and lcctluel 10
large audiences. He was I'll accoui, is:hcd
gcolo.st. Lis work entitled studies Of
Glaciers" attracted the attention OF -co!u.
gist, on account Of tue new Theory pre-
scuted Oh that subject, and gave him IL great
European reputation. He has riSit"! aud
collected Geological -spccimcls ii every ror-
ton Of the Allanticand Cult coasts Brazil,
auI the Valley OF the Amizop, The Valley
ii The Mississippi. and The greet plains at
the base Of the Rocky mountains, and has
had collectors At work gltlvIiHg for him Ill
land and marinr alttunt~- outhe Pacific
coast. His collections Of minerals, plants,
and fossils far exceed in extent any others
ever made in America, and in most particll-
lars surpass those Of any European cabinet
or museuA. He has published numerous
works OF great value, rich with the scientific
fruits of his travels and investigations. He
Las been lattery engaged under the auspices
Of the United States Government in making
complete investigation of the deep sea bot
tom Of the Gulf stream, and also In founding
The scientific school at Pennikese Island. The
New York Tribune, referring to the career Of
Professor AGAsSIz, says:
at IS the fortune Of but few men to as
sSt So greatly in the progress OF the day.
The extraordinary impulse which his IDdt-
vluual efforts have given The pursuits ot
science can scarcely yet be calculated they
belong to no one department OF research, and
are lust beginning TO show their magnitude"
The death OF AGAsslz is a great loss to the
world. The place of almost any other living
MN could be more easily filled than that
made vacant By AGAssIzs death. lie WIS
the strongest opponent Of the development
theory of creation, of which Mr.. GLADSTONE
said with such irresistible sarcasm that it had
relieved GOD 'of the labor Of creation, aud
discharged Him from governing the world"
Professor AGAssIz was to have delivered
course Of lectures in Washington this winter
on this very subject. He is reported to have
said that he longed to bring the cumulative
evidence Of bis researches TO bear upon this
theory, which he consider ed untenable anu
ipjurlously delusiye. Co., .r
The deceased is represented by those who
knew him 70 have been gentleman remark
able Cor that simplicity Of manner which Is
almost sure to characterize great men, and a
charming pleasantness and aaabllity towards
those he conyersed with. 1t is said that no
man could be more kind in imparting infor-
NATION, while none could excel him in the
:learnesS and conciseness oil his teaching.
lie was greatly beloved.