1835.] Alexander Volta. 91 



of his talents. This misfortune is the only one which our 

 philosopher may be said to have experienced during his 

 long career. His discoveries no doubt created envy ; but 

 if, as Franklin says, happiness like material bodies, is 

 made up of insensible elements, then was Volta happy. 

 His difference of opinion with Galvani was no doubt unfor- 

 tunate. Yet no Italian ever pronounced the name of Volta 

 without profound esteem and respect ; and, from Raveredo 

 to Messina, he was hailed by the title of our Volta. Besides 

 the distinctions conferred by Bonaparte, he was honoured 

 by the different Academies in Europe. But these dignities 

 never created pride in him. The little town of Como con- 

 tinued to be his favourite residence. The flattering and 

 repeated offers of Russia could not prevail upon him to 

 change the beautiful sky of Milan for the fogs of the Neva. 

 Ambition or the love of money had no influence on him. 

 The desire of study was the only passion he possessed, 

 which preserved him pure from worldly connexions. A 

 strong and quick intellect, extended and just ideas, and 

 sincerity, were the characteristics of the illustrious professor. 



Volta was tall, possessing handsome and regular features, 

 like those of an ancient statue, with a large forehead, which 

 profound thinking had deeply furrowed His manners 

 retained some traces of the rural habits which he had 

 acquired in his youth. Many persons remember having 

 seen Volta when at Paris enter daily the bakers shops, and 

 eat in the street large loaves which he had purchased, 

 without supposing that any one would remark him. These 

 minute circumstances with regard to great characters are 

 interesting. Fontenelle has said of Newton that he had a 

 thick head of hair, and that he lost only one tooth. 



When Volta resigned in 1819 his situation in the Univer- 

 sity of Tesino, he retired to Como, and gave up all his 

 connexions with the scientific world, scarcely admitting to 

 an interview any of the numerous travellers who were 

 attracted to the place by his renown. In 1823 an attack of 

 apoplexy threatened severe symptoms, which were overcome 

 ,,by medicine. But in March 1827, the venerable old man 

 was seized with a fever, which in a few days exhausted his 

 remaining strength, and on the 5th of the month he expired, 

 without pain, aged eighty-two years and fifteen days. It is 



