Martins on the Life and Labours of BeCandolle, 11 



agriculture, whose labours he promoted with the most lively in- 

 terest. To impress the agriculturist with the importance of his 

 calling, to awaken in him the spirit of emulation, of observation 

 of nature and of careful reflection, he regarded as one of his most 

 pleasing duties, both as a citizen and as a man of learning. 



His imagination was lively and excitable, if not creative ; his 

 feeling for beauty was pure and unprejudiced : he could not there- 

 fore be other than a warm friend of the fine arts, and he accom- 

 plished for their support in his canton whatever lay in his power. 

 Yet he did not carry his love for the fine arts to excess, but always 

 regarded them merely as means for the embellishment of life : 

 not so the attainment of objects of real utility ; these lay nearer 

 to his practical understanding, to his spirit of republican citizen- 

 ship. On this account the Class of Industry in the Societe des 

 Arts had reason to rejoice in his peculiar co-operation. The re- 

 port of 200 pages which DeCandolle prepared in the year 1828, 

 for the Industrial Association of Geneva, is a valuable testimony 

 to his varied knowledge, and his devotion to the manufacturing 

 interests of his country. 



The institution of the council of the museum, the improvement 

 of the schools through the extension of special instruction, the 

 enlargement of the public library, the direction of schools for the 

 people, the definitive organization of an institution for the deaf 

 and dumb, his contributions for the erection of a small post for 

 the use of the rural communities, and also for the founding of a 

 better system for the instruction and examination of medical and 

 surgical students — all these actions of an elevated patriotism 

 either originated with him, or received his earnest and effectual 

 support. It must be particularly mentioned in this place, that he 

 exercised the most beneficial influence on all the departments of 

 public instruction by his counsel, by his powerful aid, and by the 

 authority of his name. 



It was his constant effort to increase the desire for knowledge, 

 — ^to extend the circle of science. He was inspired by that genuine 

 aristocracy, which we find also in a Cuvier, a Fourcroy and a La- 

 place ; he wished to raise science to the rank of a princess, that she 

 might make herself the servant of mankind. In this sense also 

 he was a great friend to publicity ; he helped to introduce it into 

 his country ; he caused it to be prized at a period when it had not 

 yet been regarded with favour, and in which it not seldom called 

 forth suspicion and alarm. 



In his place as member of the representative council, subjects 

 of great political importance were often referred to him. He dis- 

 charged all such commissions with as much skill as independent 

 disinterestedness. More than thirty commissions of this kind were 

 executed by him with as much assiduity as if they concerned ob* 



