Biographical Memoir of Charles Bonnet. £25 



naturalist, he ultimately became a theologian ; and by a singu- 

 lar progress, it was a doctrine closely allied at least to that of ne- 

 cessity, that conducted him to Christianity. 



In tracing the progress of those meditations in which Bonnet 

 was engaged, I have given you a full portrait of the man. To 

 devote one's-self with such constancy to speculative researches, — 

 to aim at forming out of his own reflections a system of ideas so 

 subtle, — required a mind undisturbed by the concerns of this 

 world, and not less tranquil with regard to those of another ; 

 and, in fact, he preserved, during a pretty long hfe, that 

 composure of mind of which his writings bear the impress. En- 

 joying an easy fortune, in the society of a mild and amiable 

 wife; called to honours in his native country, without being 

 charged with the cares of government ; esteemed by the power- 

 ful and the learned of Europe ; beloved by those who had more 

 intimate connections with him, he tasted, without interruption, 

 all the pleasures of the heart and mind. He had no children, 

 but he bore an affectionate regard for some of his pupils, whom 

 he judged worthy of it ; — a kind of fathership, unattended with 

 the chagrins which are too often attached to the other. 



It was thus that he passed his life without leaving his native 

 country, doing good to all who surrounded him, and hoping to 

 produce a greater and more general good by his works. Al- 

 though his constitution had never been strong, yet his health 

 remained unbroken during an existence so calm ; and it was not 

 until he had attained the age of seventy-three that he died, after 

 a gradual decline, on the SOth May 1793. 



The city of Geneva, proud of having had such a citizen, de- 

 creed him public honours. M. de Saussure pronounced his fu- 

 neral oration. Two others of his pupils have published eulo- 

 giums full of the affectionate admiration which animated all who 

 approached him. 



But, next to his works, the monument which confers most 

 honour upon him, are those very men whom his advice and ex- 

 ample contributed to form ; and we shall add a,poncluding fea- 

 ture to the picture of his life, by tracing immediately after it 

 that of a nephew who was not less illustrious, and who, without 

 having carried his ideas over so wide a field, has made bolder 

 and surer steps in the more narrow career which he traced for 

 himself 



