328 Von Martius on the Life and Writings of Robert Brown. 



goodness of heart — these features of his character stood con- 

 stantly under the government of a penetrating and massive 

 judgment. So energetically did these characteristics regulate 

 his activity as inquirer and author^ that we may affirm that 

 every act of his investigations and every assertion in his writings 

 bear the stamp of this perfectly balanced character. 



It is indeed often the case that an extraordinary intellect rests, 

 like a column, upon a slender moral foundation; but Robert 

 Brown's rose, like a pyramid, from a broad and strong base. In 

 recognition of this worthy combination, all naturalists offered to 

 his intellect admiration — to his character reverence and love. 



The deepest principle in the nature of this gifted man was 

 the love of truth. No sympathy could, even for a moment, over- 

 come this love. The sense of truth was as it were the medium 

 of his peace of mind. Hence arose that quiet calmness, that 

 tranquillity and circumspection in his researches, and that re- 

 serve which was even interpreted by the ignorant as artifice or 

 egotism. He knew far more than he ventured to say ; yet from 

 no one oftener fell the words " I do not know.'' Much that is 

 clear to superficial and more easily satisfied minds, appeared to 

 his deeply-penetrating gaze still full of unresolved problems; 

 but where he was certain of his matter, his pleasure in imparting 

 it increased with the difficulty of the subject. 



It has been objected to his writings that they are obscure. 

 Passages which have drawn down this reproof may rather be 

 indicated as expressions of that caution and conscientiousness 

 which dreads to give occasion to misconception or error. And 

 it would be difficult to find a botanist to whom it has so rarely 

 happened to retract or correct his assertions ; very frequently, 

 indeed, he strengthens his later views by reference to his earlier 

 publications. 



He was more sensitive to scientific and literary censure than 

 to praise and acknowledgment, — and this not all from pride, but 

 on account of his instinctive love of truth. What he dreaded 

 was not his own mistakes, but the reproach that he had not been 

 sufficiently cautious and conscientious in the inquiry. This 

 moral earnestness armed him in the defence of what he believed 

 to be correct. There only was he seen moved from his tranquil- 

 lity where injustice or intentional error was to be combated. 

 His indignation was aroused, not by human weakness but by 

 perversity. He was the soul of honour — hence accustomed to 

 expose knavery and low-mindedness, and to judge it inexorably. 

 No one held more firmly his own intellectual property ; but no 

 one more strictly respected that of others. Reputation not based 

 on genuine desert he lightly esteemed ; but it was a matter of 

 conscience with him to bring forward neglected merit. The 



