10 Biographical Account of J. G. Galm. [July, 



to enable followers in the track of philosophical investigation to 

 clear a path for themselves ; we find hirn superintending the 

 agricultural interests of his country, and increasing her revenues 

 by the improvement and simplification of the process of smelt- 

 ing the ores ; we find him guiding the charity of his country ; 

 we find him in public the enlightened and zealous patriot, and in 

 private, the steady and agreeable friend, filling honourably and 

 in happiness the relations of husband and of father. 



There remains only the end of such a man : it was quiet and 

 serene, the natural consequence of a well-spent life. From the 

 period of his wife's death, which occurred about three years 

 before his own, his health, which had never been robust, visibly 

 declined. Occasionally nature made an effort to shake off the 

 disease, which, however, constantly returned with increasing- 

 strength, until, in the autumn of 1818, the decay became more 

 rapid in its progress, and more decided in its character; and he 

 gradually grew weaker and weaker, until on the 8th of Decem- 

 ber of that year, a calm and peaceful death freed him from all 

 earthly care. 



Let it not be supposed that in the above short sketch, we 

 have been able even to glance at all the departments of science 

 and art which own a benefactor in Gahn. Towards the close of 

 his life, his taste, or rather passion, for chemistry and mechanics 

 became more and more decided ; but his many calls of public 

 duty rendered it impossible for him to indulge in these his 

 favourite pursuits. It is partly to this circumstance, partly to 

 the extensive variety of subjects to which he turned his eager 

 attention, and in all of which his constant aim was some end of 

 practical utility ; and it is in part to be ascribed to his reluctance 

 to publish any speculations not sufficiently matured to please his 

 sensible and delicate mind, that in his death, the world at large, 

 as well the men of science as the men of business, have suf- 

 fered a misfortune which is irreparable ; for his experiments 

 were so various, and his notes and manuscripts so numerous, 

 that it is too much to be feared none other than himself could 

 understand either their arrangement or detail. Of the extent of 

 the loss which is thus sustained, we can only judge by the benefit 

 which has accrued to so many sciences from the source now 

 closed for ever. Of his improvements on the blowpipe, we 

 have already spoken ; yet of Gahn's mastery of that instrument, 

 none, except those who saw him use it, can judge : besides this, 

 the art of dyeing ; the preparation and application of varnishes; 

 the invention and improvement of implements and tools ; &c. 

 all occupied his attention, and received amelioration at his hands. 

 And again, we are forcibly struck with a feeling of wonder, that 

 the same man should be thoroughly master of so many, so 

 voiious, and so extensive departments of science and art, atone 

 moment. To sum up the whole, we may safely say, that he was 



