90 Biographical Account of {Aue. 
In the summer of 1809, as he was riding to Brighthelmston, he 
met with a serious accident, by which his collar bone was broken. 
He was removed to the house of his friend Mr. Howard, in the 
neighbourhood of London, where he was treated with the most 
affectionate kindness, and remained till his complete recovery. 
During the early period of his residence in London, Mr. Ten- 
nant had led rather a retired life; but in his more advanced years 
he went much more into the world, and cultivated general society. 
He had a particular pleasure in conversing with intelligent travellers 
newly returned from distant countries, or in suggesting rational ob- 
jects of inquiry to such as were about to visit them. As an instance of 
the latter, it may be mentioned, that he was at considerable pains in 
instructing M. Burchardt, a gentleman sent out by the African Asso- 
ciation to explore the interior of that continent, in the principles of 
mineralogy. He frequently gave small morning parties at his cham- 
bers in the Temple, which he rendered very amusing to his friends 
by the exhibition of interesting prints and drawings, of rare specimens 
and new substances in chemistry, or of other objects calculated to 
gratify an intelligent and well-directed curiosity. It happened in 
the spring of 1812 that he had engaged to shew his mineralogical 
collection to a large party of his acquaintance, with a view of ex- 
plaining to them the nature of some of the principal substances, and 
of giving them some general ideas of mineralogy. His intention being 
known, several others of his friends requested permission to be pre- 
sent ; and he was gradually induced to extend his original plan, and 
to give a few lectures on the general outlines of mineralogical che- 
mistry. The undertaking was somewhat arduous, considering the 
expectations which his high character was likely to excite, his total 
inexperience as a lecturer, and the difficulty of adapting himself to 
so mixed an audience; which, though consisting principally of 
females, included many individuals distinguished for science and 
literature. It was attended, however, with complete success. Of - 
Fontenelle, the first of those writers who have given a popular and 
engaging form to the lessons of philosophy, it is said by Voltaire :— 
* J/ignorant Ventendit, le savant l’admira.” 
> b] 
This praise was strictly applicable to Mr. Tennant. The great 
clearness and facility of his statements, the variety and happiness of 
his illustrations, and the comprehensive philosophical views which 
he displayed, were alike gratifying to every part of his audience. 
He delivered about four lectures, each of which was of great 
length; yet the interest of his hearers was never in the least sus- 
pended. ‘Though his style and manner of speaking were raised 
vnly ina slight degree above the tone of familiar conversation, their 
attention was perpetually kept»alive by the spirit and variety with 
which every topic was discussed, by anecdotes and quotations hap- 
pily introduced, by the ornaments of a powerful, but chastised, 
imagination; and, above all, by a peculiar vein of pleasantry, at 
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