4'^ ACCOUNT OF A B(W*' 



«ifHs; ami still more, the slightest developement that could be 

 given to any of" his dormant powers, might afford not less im- 

 portant data for philosophical speculation than the most ex- 

 tensive acquisitions. 



Having mentioned more than once the name of Massieu, 

 I think it proper to subjoin to the preceding remarks, the de- 

 scription of him given by Sicard, at the time when their ac- 

 quaintance commenced. It may serve to shew, that the idea 

 of attempting the education of Mitchell, even at the age of 

 sixteen, is not altogether chimerical. 



" The reader will easily form an idea of the character and 

 manners of Massieu, when he is told, that he was born in a 

 cottage, six leagues from Bordeaux ; and that his relations 

 (who were the only individuals with whom he ever had any 

 intercourse) had not even taken the trouble to communicate to 

 him the slightest information about material objects. His child- 

 hood had been spent in tending a flock ; and all his ideas were 

 confined within the narrow circle which had fallen under his 

 random observation. Massieu was a Man of the Woods; untinc- 

 tured with any habits but such as were purely animal; astonished 

 and terrified at every thing. In coming to Bordeaux, he had 

 believed that he was only changing his place of abode ; and 

 that he would be employed there in keeping another flock : 

 but it was towards the beloved scene which he had left, and 

 which had witnessed the first sports of his infancy, that his 

 imagination was incessantly turned. In every thing he saw, 

 he apprehended some danger ; in every step he was directed 

 to take, he suspected some snare. How far was this simple 

 boy, accustomed as he was to consider himself on a level with 

 the animals entrusted to -his care, from dreaming that he was 

 about to be raised by education to the rank of Man ! His 



clouded 



