390 MEMOIR OF HAUY. 



those who, enlightened by his own discoveries, arrived in the sequel at 

 a different estimate of certain facts of detail, or even principles, which 

 he had too widely generalized? Certain it is, that in those moments, 

 when such a tribute to human weakness was extorted from him, he felt 

 only for what he supposed to be the interests of science, and if angry, 

 it was simply at what he considered some new obstacle opposed to the 

 triumph of truth. 



The government of France, at the time when it was seeking to re- 

 store some activity to public instruction, proposed to Haiiy the prepa- 

 ration of a treatise on physics, for the use of colleges. He had more 

 than one title to this commission, whether from the ingenious manner 

 in which he had applied physics to mineralogy, his many interesting 

 memoirs on the electricity and double refraction of minerals, the elegant 

 exposition which he had given of the theory of iEpinus on electricity 

 and magnetism, or the success which had attended the course of 

 physics delivered at the Normal School, established by the Convention 

 in 1795. Notwithstanding these titles, however, Haiiy scrupled to aban- 

 don, even for a time, the successful researches to which, as he thought, 

 he had been guided by the hand of Providence, nor did he enter on the 

 task without first consultiDg the Abbe Emery, a former superior of 

 St. Sulpice. "Do not hesitate," said the latter; "it will be your own 

 fault, if, in treating of nature, you neglect to speak of its Author ; 

 and fail not to designate yourself on the title page a Canon of the 

 Metropolis." The abbe, whose ability is to be as little questioned as 

 his sincerity, knew that there is no profession which is not exalted by 

 the talents of those who exercise it, and remembered, doubtless, that 

 the epoch when Christianity made most conquests and its ministers 

 were held in most respect, was that when the latter carried the light 

 of letters among the nations they converted, and by the union of these 

 with the truths of religion constituted themselves at once the most 

 eminent and most enlightened order of the State. 



If this treatise on physics added little to the scientific reputation of 

 its author, it by no means impaired his literary standing. Marked by 

 the same clearness and purity of style as his mineralogy, it possesses 

 even more interest ; it is a book eminently qualified to inspire youth 

 with a taste for the natural sciences, and to be received with interest 

 by all. Hence, it soon passed to a third edition. 



" At different times Haiiy had been warmly pressed to designate some 

 post for himself, adapted to his pursuits and inclination. As his wishes 

 extended no further than to be enabled to bring his family around him, 

 as a solace in age and infirmity, this object seemed to be accomplished 

 by the appointment of the husband of his niece to a petty place in the 

 public revenues. But, strange to say, this slight recompense disap- 

 peared at the next reform, and no other answer to the remonstrances 

 of Haiiy' s friends could be obtained but that there seemed to be no 

 relation between crystallography and taxation. 



Newton, it will be remembered, had in like manner been recompensed 

 for the glory which his genius shed upon his country, by an appoint- 

 ment (far more considerable, it is true) of a financial nature; but he 

 kept it under three kings and ten ministers. How is it that the men 



