228 Martins, on the Life and Labors of De Candolle. 



Council of the representatives of the canton, and being twice 

 unanimously re-elected after the first time of service, in the years 

 1829 and 1839, by the voice of the people. As long as he lived 

 in his paternal city, he was called by the confidence of his fellow 

 citizens to situations of public responsibility. He examined with 

 a penetrating glance the condition of municipal affairs at that 

 time ; a friend of order and of a peaceful progress, he procured 

 many useful institutions, and applied himself to the carrying out 

 of others which were projected by congenial patriots. He took 



an active part in the formation and enriching of the museum 



of the Academy ; I have already mentioned that the botanical 

 garden was created by him. As president of the Society of Arts, 

 he animated every movement of his fellow citizens in the field 

 of arts and manufactures. He considered attention to agricul- 

 ture of peculiar importance in a small republic, which depends 

 upon its neighborhood for the necessaries of life. On this ac- 

 count he founded in that society a peculiar class for agriculture, 

 whose labors he promoted with the most lively interest. To 

 impress the agriculturist with the importance of his calling, to 

 awaken in him the spirit of emulation, of observation of nature, 

 and of careful reflection, he regarded as one of his most pleasing 

 duties, both as a citizen and as a man of learning. 



His imagination was lively and excitable, if not creative ; his 

 feeling for beauty was pure and unprejudiced : he could not there- 

 fore be other than a warm friend of the fine arts, and he accom- 

 plished for their support in his canton, whatever lay in his power. 

 Yet he did not carry his love for the fine arts to excess, but al- 

 ways regarded them merely as means for the embellishment of 

 life : not so the attainment of objects of real utility ; these lay 

 nearer to his practical understanding, to his spirit of republican 

 citizenship. On this account the Class of Industry in the Societe 

 des Arts, had reason to rejoice in his peculiar cooperation. The 

 report of two hundred pages, which De Candolle prepared in the 

 year 1828, for the Industrial Association of Geneva, is a valuable 

 testimony to his varied knowledge, and his devotion to the man- 

 ufacturing interests of his country. 



The institution of the council of the museum, the improvement 

 of the schools through the extension of special instruction, the 

 enlargement of the public library, the direction of schools for the 

 people, the definitive organization of an institution for the deaf 



