188 Memoir of Abraham Gottlob Werner. 
directed to the Brasils, where the excellent Oranjo was his friend, 
and many Germans now employed there his scholars. In his 
thoughts he followed every traveller, and put questions to him, 
in his own mind, such as Michaelis once wrote for Niebuhr and 
Forskael. His house was the constant rendezvous of curious 
travellers, from all countries and of all ranks; and he showed 
to them all, with uncommon patience and attention, his museum, 
and especially his collection of precious stones, which excites 
surprise by the value and variety of the specimens. He did not, 
however, like writing letters, because he preferred personal in- 
tercourse to every thing, and dreaded a loss of time. This dis- 
interested participation, in whatever promoted in any country 
the interests of knowledge and humanity, did not hinder him 
from being the most faithful son of his own country, the most 
loyal reverer of his king. He refused every invitation from 
abroad, (and he received at an early period several very brilliant 
and enticing ones,) and was for many years contented with a 
very moderate salary, supporting himself by private lectures. 
“He made presents to all the academies and public schools of 
Saxony, and endeavoured by this means every where to excite a 
predilection for natural philosophy. Those who were most inti- 
mately eonnected with him, enjoyed his tenderest interest and 
care.— In his house,” said Boettiger, in his farewell address on 
the eminence of Gorbitz, ‘ company daily assembled for his ad- 
vice; and the same hand with which he felt the pulse of nature, 
raised and supported every unfortunate. His simple manners, 
his cordial cheerfulness, and his social playfulness, made him the 
favourite of his fellow-citizens. When Werner entered, every 
countenance brightened; the women, too, loved the company of 
a man who, without insipid compliments, always had something 
delicate and entertaining to say tothem. In his earlier years 
his feeling heart would doubtless have made him highly suscepti- 
ble of enjoying the sweets of domestic life; but he did not find 
what he sought. [n later years he renounced the idea of them, 
out of love to science, and was fully indemnified by the cordial 
attachment of his pupils and friends. Penetrated with that true 
devotion which worships God in spirit and in truth, he often 
preached to his pupils the purest morality, which he confirmed 
by his own example; and even in his lectures often rose with 
genuine enthusiasm from the miracles of nature to their Divine 
Author.—Such was the man of whom his contemporaries and 
his country will be always proud; a man equally distinguished 
by his rare learning, and by his goodness of heart and unspotted 
character. How just is the grief caused by such a Joss! His 
fairest monument is the gratitude of his pupils, who are spread 
evér all the countries of the world. But his doctrines and 4 
hfe 
