10 Biographical Notice of the Abbe Haiiy. 



Journal de Physique, the Annales du Museum, the Journal 

 des Mines, and the Annales des Mines. 



The University, at the time of its foundation, thought it 

 an honour to place Haiiy on the list of one of its faculties. 

 He was not required to deliver lectures, for he was supplied 

 with an adjunct well worthy of him in M. Brongniart, at 

 present member of the Academy of Sciences, and his suc- 

 cessor in the Museum of Natural History. But Haiiy was 

 unwilling to receive a title without fulfilling the duties which 

 it implied. He accordingly invited the pupils of the Normal 

 school to attend him at his rooms, and by amiable and diver- 

 sified conversation, he initiated them into his secrets. His 

 college life was thus agreeably renewed, he almost sported 

 with the young people, and never sent them away without an 

 ample collation. Thus passed his days. Religious duties, 

 profound researches, and acts of benevolence, particularly in 

 relation to young people, occupied his whole time. As to- 

 lerant as he was pious, the opinions of others never influenced 

 his conduct towards them. As pious as he was faithful to his 

 studies, the most sublime speculations could not divert him 

 from any of the prescriptions of the ritual, and upon all 

 worldly objects he placed just the value which they might 

 be expected to hold in the eyes of a man penetrated with such 

 sentiments. From the course of his pursuits, the most beau- 

 tiful gems which nature produces came under his observa- 

 tion ; and he published a treatise especially upon them, but 

 without regarding them in any other light than as crystal- 

 line forms. A single degree, more or less, in the angle of a 

 schorl, or a spath, would undoubtedly have interested him 

 more than all the treasures of the two Indies : and if any 

 room can be found for reproaching him with too strong an 

 attachment to any thing, it was to his opinions on this sub- 

 ject. He devoted himself to this theory, and when objec- 

 tions were made to it, a degree of impatience was excited, 

 which troubled his repose. It was the only occasion which 

 could influence him to forget his inherent mildness and be- 

 nevolence ; and it must be acknowledged that this disposi- 

 tion was not without its effect. But at the same time that 



