Life and U'ritutgs of Berzelius. 13 



In our day, it has even been said, that few French works 

 found favour in his eyes, unless they were written in the 

 spirit of his doctrines, or modelled after his theories. This 

 is one of the most unjust accusations that could be advanced 

 against him ; and we have only to peruse his interesting 

 Comptes Bendus, to be convinced that it is altogether false. 

 We might have wished, indeed, that the conscientious work 

 of Berzelius had been a simple statistical view of the progress 

 of the science, instead of being a report on that progress ; 

 that is to say, at once a rational exposition, and a judgment, 

 with the reasons on which it was founded. 



Others have alleged that these official judgments had no 

 object or utility ; that to expose, decide upon, and combat 

 researches which required long and laboi'ious study, was a 

 bad and ungracious undertaking. Some have even gone the 

 length of saying that these reports are not his own work, but 

 merely a compilation made by obliging and inexperienced 

 pupils ! 



When scientific ci'iticism is conscientiously conducted, we 

 shall always plead its defence against detractors ; and those 

 who love science for its own sake, and not for the reputation 

 it sometimes confers, or the profitable employment which it 

 still more rarely procures, will certainly be of our opinion. 

 It is of the highest importance that ei'ror should not be in- 

 troduced into science, and it is consequently necessary that 

 eminent men should be found willing to devote themselves to 

 the toilsome task of examining the discoveries and works 

 which every day appear, in order to sanction with their au- 

 thority such as are true, to do justice to such as their authors 

 produce, and endeavour in this way to enrich the common 

 domain. It is even one of the greatest misfortunes we have 

 to lament, that the death of Berzelius has left us completely 

 destitute of this scientific criticism ; for he alone, if w^e may 

 so speak, stood as a sentinel in advance sui'veying the hori- 

 zon, ever ready to assail rash or false theories, ill-conducted 

 experiments, or factitious explanations. 



Tar from finding fault with Berzelius' courage in his frank 

 and distinctly-expressed appreciations of the deserts of others, 

 we eagerly hope that others will be found to imitate his 



