M. Quetelet's Memoir of Prof. Moll. 297 



we cannot but approve the generous warmth which induced 

 our colleague to compose his work. With regard to ourselves, 

 we are certainly iar from adopting the judgements of the En- 

 glish author on some of his countrymen ; and the sincere 

 fi'iendship which we feel for him has made us regret to find 

 often too much asperity where matters of science were the only 

 subjects of discussion ; at bottom, however, we can see in 

 it only one of those I'reaks which men of superior talent some- 

 times allow themselves to play, and the particular object of 

 which is to stimulate the ardour of a nation. These are some 

 of those family reproaches which strangers should not take 

 for serious. 



M. Moll however had much to congratulate himself upon 

 in his relations with the English philosophers, who had given 

 him multiplied proofs of their esteem. He belonged to man}' 

 of their learned societies, and in ]835, at the meeting of the 

 British Association at Edinburgh, he was made a member of 

 it, at the same time that the university offered him the de- 

 gree of doctor of laws, honoris causa, and that the freedom of 

 the city was conferred on him ; the following year the meet- 

 ing took place in Dublin, and the university of that city also 

 presented him with a diploma of doctor of laws. 



The upright and firm character of M. Moll, his generally 

 polite manners, and his obliging disposition, had obtained for 

 him numerous friends both in his own and in other countries ; 

 his tastes drew him towards the English, for whom he strongly 

 expressed his lively sympathy. He may perhaps be blamed, 

 on the other hand, as yielding sometimes, when individuals 

 were in question, to prepossessions, which did not influence 

 ■ him in matters of science ; and these prepossessions were 

 the more apparent as they were evinced in a somewhat rough 

 and pungent manner*. 



Moll was named member of our Academy the 7th of May, 

 1828: he had given us reason to hope from him an active 

 cooperation in our labours, but the political events which en- 

 sued gave him but small opportunity of realizing his pro- 

 mises. 



The 11th of December 1S37, our colleague celebrated the 

 twenty-fifth anniversary of his professorship; his colleagues, 

 his pupils, and his numerous friends gave him touching proofs 

 of their attachment and esteem upon this occasion. But this 

 day, devoted to pleasure, which consecrated so remarkable an 



* Molliuin in dijudicandis aliis semper aequitate diictum fiiisse, nolo 

 equideni effaii. Hoc qtiidem dicere oportet, asquum jiulicem eiiiii extitisse 

 si non cunctis, certe inultis, o|)timis, in primis vero senibus et pra-ceptori- 

 bus suis. Oralio cle G. Moll. 



