222 Biographical Memoir of Henri/ Cavendish. 



formed a great library, and a very rich natural philosophy cabi- 

 net, which he devoted so completely to the use of the public, 

 as to reserve no privileges for himself, borrowing his own 

 books with the same formality as strangers, and, like them, 

 putting his name into the Ubrarian''s register. One day the 

 keeper of his instruments told him, with anger, that a young 

 man had broken a very valuable machine. " Young people," he 

 replied, " must break machines to learn how to use them ; get 

 another made/' 



The regularity of Mr Cavendish'^s life procured him long days 

 exempt from infirmity. To the age of seventy-nine he retained 

 the activity of his body and the powers of his mind. He owed 

 probably to his reserved manners, and the modest tone of his 

 most important writings, another not less great advantage, and 

 one which men of genius seldom enjoy, that of never having his 

 repose disturbed by the jealousy of rivals, or the acrimony of 

 critics. Like Newton, his great countryman, whom he resem- 

 bled in other respects, he died full of years and of renown, che- 

 rished by his cotemporaries, respected by the generation which 

 he had instructed, celebrated among all the learned of Eurc^e, 

 presenting at once to the world the accomplished model of what 

 all men of science ought to be, and an affecting example of the 

 happiness which they ought to enjoy. 



His decease took place on the 24th February 1810. 



His place in the Institute was given to M. Alexander de 

 Humboldt, whose extensive acquirements, multiplied labours, 

 and adventurous enterprises, which have obtained for him the 

 estimation of the learned of both hemispheres, have long entitled 

 him to this distinction, in the opinion of all who have a right to 

 form one on such a subject. 



Essay cm the Structure and Action of Volcanoes in differefit re- 

 gions of the Earth. By Baron Humboldt *. 



W HEN we reflect upon the influence which, for many ages, 

 has been exercised upon the study of nature, by the improve- 

 ments of geography, and by scientific journeys made into dis- 

 tant regions, we quickly perceive how different this influence 

 • Translated from the Tableaux de la Nature, par Humboldt, t. ii 



