^f Oiof Torhern BergTfian, 199 



illtiUion, and that his labours were often interrupted by hit 

 hodily infirmities,, it will appear rather furprifing that he 

 ihoiild have been able to accomplifti fo much. He was fre- 

 <qiiciuly tormented with the hcad-aehe, and lutferec! aifo eon- 

 fidcrably from the haemorrhoids. Finding his health declining 

 he repaired toMcdwi, to have the benefit of the waters there, 

 from which he had often l>efore ex])crienccd relief; bnt a 

 few days after his arrival he was feized' with convulfion?, 

 which attacked him feveral times, and expired on the 8th of 

 July 178^1^ AW the company then at the baths attended K\s 

 funeraL He left a widow, by whom he had two children, 

 who died young; and from her the king purchafed his li- 

 brary and apparatus for the ufe of the chemical profcflbr, 

 giving her a handfome penfion as a compenfation for them. 



Bergman's chara6i:er and difpofition were well calculated 

 to conciliate refpe6l and cfleern. He was far from being 

 morofe, or an enemy to innocent mirth. Whenever he 

 thought he could gratify his friends^ he was always ready to 

 participate in their amufements. He never apj>eared obfti- 

 nate or fupercihous in delivering his opinions : if they were 

 thought dubious, he explained them; but, if he found iu^- 

 cient reafon, he retra<Sled them. This candid and magna- 

 nimous condu6l he difplayed alfo as a writer; but, when 

 fully convinced of the truth and folidily of any point, he 

 adhered to it with unfliaken iirmnefs. However ardently 

 attached to his favourite fciences, he never defpiied other 

 knowledge, or reje6led any thing with the utility of which 

 he was unacquainted ; on the contrary, he valued and pro- 

 moted every thing that had the Icaft tendency to enlarge 

 human kno\vled(j;e. A llranfrer to vanity, he never folicited 

 for worldly honours or dignities; and ihofe which were of- 

 fered to him he ufed as a philofopher ought. 



Towards his friends his heart was ever open and waiTn. 

 When afked advice, he gave it with readinefs and finccrity; 

 and his benevolence never ftood in need of being folicited. 

 His intimacy with Scheele is well known : he was the firll 

 perfon who called the attention of the Swcdifh nation and of . 

 foreigners to the talents of that eminent man ; and it is very 

 probible that, had he not b^en introduced into notice by 



Bergman^ 



