Augustin Pyramus De Candolle. 255 



the study of Botany assumed a degree of importance it had never 

 before possessed. De Candolle quitted Montpellier in 1816, very 

 much to the regret of the students and of his colleagues, who em- 

 ployed every means in their power to induce him to remain among 

 them : but his country had been restored to liberty, and he was firm 

 in his determination to fix himself in his native city, and devote to 

 its services the remainder of his days. 



Soon after his return to Geneva he was appointed to the chair of 

 Natural History, an office which had been created expi-essly that he 

 might occupy it. Among the first of the public benefits which he 

 conferred upon his countrymen was the establishment of a Botanic 

 Garden. The government of Geneva willingly lent their aid in form- 

 ing so laudable an institution, in which he was also assisf/sd by a great 

 number of voluntary subscribers. The enthusiasm which he in- 

 spired for his favourite science was remarkably displayed on one 

 particular occasion, when, being desirous of procuring for Geneva a 

 copy of a Flora of Mexico which had been deposited with him for a 

 few days, an appeal which he made to the public was responded to 

 with such alacrity, that in the course of eight days, one thousand 

 drawings had been finished by amateurs, who volunteered their ser- 

 vices on the occasion. 



The activity and powers of De Candolle's mind were displayed in 

 a nmltitude of objects of public utility, the furtherance of which 

 ever called forth in him the most lively interest ; — whether it was 

 the improvement of agriculture, the cultivation of the fine arts, the 

 advancement of public instruction, the diffusion of education, or the 

 amelioi'ation of the legislative code. Feeling deeply of what vast 

 importance to the welfare of mankind it is that sound principles of 

 political economy should be extensively promulgated and well un- 

 derstood by all ranks of men, De Candolle never failed to develope 

 and enforce those principles in his lectures and popular discourses, 

 as well as in his official agricultural reports. On these subjects, and 

 especially with respect to the immense advantages which would ac- 

 crue to the community from the unrestricted freedom of commerce 

 his views were those of the most enlightened policy, and exhibited a 

 sagacity in advance of the times in which he lived. 



As a lecturer, he possessed in an eminent degree the power of im- 

 parting to his auditors the enthusiasm which glowed within his own 

 breast for the pursuits of natural history. Complete master of the 

 subject of his discourse, liis ample stores of knowledge never failed 

 to supply him with illustrations ; and even in his extempore eff"usions, 

 all his ideas were developed in the clearest order, and explained with 

 singular persjjicuity *. His chief delight was to afford assistance of 

 every kind to such students as needed it, and in whom he perceived 



• The substance of Dc Candolle's popular courses of lectures on the phy- 

 8iolo<;y of ])iants is contained in ' Conversations on Vegetable I'hysiolo"-y ; 

 compreliending the Elements of Botany, with their application to Agricul- 

 ture,' by the accomplished authoress of ' Conversations on Chemistry,' 

 'Natural Phiiosopiiy,' and other well-known works The first edition ap- 

 peared in 1S29. 



