observation, — that even the grand scenes of nature, 

 most precious in the estimation of pure and enthu- 

 siastic minds, — even these grow flat, stale and unpro- 

 fitable, without the presence of a congenial friend 

 to share in the enjoyments which they impart. 



A sensibility which became morbid, affected his 

 tender spirits; and he experienced towards England 

 the true maladie du pays which the inhabitants of 

 his adopted country feel when long absent from 

 their native soil. 



Mr. Davall had projected, and indeed made some 

 progress in, a work on the plants of Switzerland, 

 which he never completed. Ill-health, and a too 

 anxious care for its being faultless, retarded, and 

 finally stopped the publication of his accurate and 

 ingenious labours. 



A love of botany was the ruling passion of his 

 mind, and was indeed but an effect of the adoration 

 he paid to the beauty of creation in all its forms. 

 Actuated by a pure love of nature, he was free from 

 the restless passions of ambition or fame: — but the 

 passions of others too often troubled his repose ; 

 and when he discovered the degrading traits of sus- 

 picion and reserve, where he reposed confidence, his 

 ingenuous spirit was vexed and grieved more than 

 it ought to have been, and he was led to charge 

 himself with misanthropy, when all he felt was 

 wounded love. 



A little sketch of his history, which he had writ- 

 ten to his friend sometime about the year 1795, will 

 at once exhibit the sensitive disposition of this ex- 

 cellent man. 



