Biographical Memoir of the late Henry Kuhl. IfT 



^ast, and expected to be safe in future from all attacks of the 

 climate. But soon after Kiihl became affected by a disease 

 which resisted all treatment, accompanied by inflammation of 

 liver to such a degree that his life was in danger. He saw from 

 -the first that the disease would prove mortal, but he waited the 

 approach of death with becoming fortitude. " The tranquillity 

 of mind which he possessed when in good health," writes Van 

 Hasselt, his companion, to Swinderen, " instead of being dimi- 

 nished by sickness, was rather increased. I have been astonished 

 at the calmness with which he spoke of his approaching death. 

 He even gave me some injunctions about things which he wish- 

 ed to be performed before he died. In fact, I am not less an 

 admirer of him, now that he is dead, on account of the fortitude 

 which he displayed, than I was his friend while alive." After 

 having laboured four weeks under his disease, he died on the 

 14th of September 1821, not yet twenty-four years of age. 



Kiihl was of an excellent disposition, and the most refined man- 

 ners. He was quick of comprehension, acute in discriminating, 

 and possessed of a most tenacious memory, — qualities of the ut- 

 most importance to the naturalist, especially as the compass of 

 science is now so extended, that, without a proper arrangement 

 of ideas, and a faithful memory, the various objects cannot fail 

 to be confounded. Nor was his manual dexterity less remark- 

 able than the acuteness of his intellect: he could in fact do 

 every thing with his hands that he wished; he stuffed the skins 

 of animals, dissected them with great neatness, and drew not 

 less beautifully than accurately, so as occasionally to supply the 

 place of a painter, on the voyage undertaken to the Island of 

 Java, in delineating anatomical subjects. 



' To these qualities Kiihl added the greatest industry. With 

 him every moment of time was employed : when in his room he 

 was either reading or examining natural objects; when walking, 

 or upon a journey, he was collecting animals, plants, and mine- 

 rals, and thinking upon their qualities and properties. He 

 deemed it base to enjoy repose longer than was necessary. He 

 often sat up at his studies till midnight ; and when Swinderen 

 shewed him his bed-room on his arrival, the first thipg- he did 

 was to^ see whether a bell might be hung above his bed, that the 



APRIL JULY 1826. B 



