AUGUSTIN-PYRAMUS DE CANDOLLE. 115 
my ‘ 
the Sagat or Topographical Distribution of Plants,’ and later, one san 
double flowers, especially of the Ranunculacee. The first of these writings was 
a simple and clear solution [although an incorrect one, as it apum —Ep.] 
of a problem which was deemed insoluble; the second reduced to just propor- 
tions the exaggerations of Humboldt upon the influence of elevation ; the third 
was an essay connected with the observations of the degenerescence of organs, 
to which my * Théorie Elémentaire’ was devoted. .... 
* We commonly made our rendezvous at Thénard's, and went together to 
Arcueil, as happy with this run into the country as school-boys out for a holi- 
day. We walked about in this pleasant villa, and relished the society of our 
leaders. Nothing can fully describe the good-nature and simplicity of M. 
ire and even of Madame” They were with nsa parents siih their 
M. 
children, and we made ours 
Berthollet was quite fat and very full-blooded. He feared heat so much that he 
wore clothes only out of respect to society, and at night he ques entirely 
eats upon his bed. ‘What,’ said we, ‘even in winte ‘Oh,’ he 
swered, * when it is very cold I spread my S anad over my feet.’ 
n, so high in social rank and scientific celebrity, bore contradiction 
unusually well, and loved above all things truth. When the first works of Ber- 
zelius upon definite proportions became known at Paris, I was very much taken 
with them, and although they were in direct opposition to the principles of 
statical chemistry he sustained, I did not fear to tell M. Berthollet the high 
agron I had of them. Far from taking e at this preference, he 
S Y TRE me to study the writings of Berze 
* M. dela Place was of quite a different di He had the dryness of 
a Fecit and the haughtiness of a parvenu. Over and above these 
defects of manner, he was a man of honour and worth. ... He often seconded 
me, although in truth he thought very little of natural Hio 
ings he often had little quarrels with M. Berthollet, and would think to silence 
him by saying, *But you see, M. Baiti, what I say to you is mathematics,’ 
‘Eh, par Dieu, what I say to you is physics,’ answered the other, ‘and that is 
quite as good.’ ... Humboldt also came from time to time; but he added 
added certain facts, and the grs ona of a true theory so as to render it 
almost false. He never quite pardoned me for having, in the preface to my 
memoir * On the Geography of the Plants of France, cited those who before 
him had occupied themselves with mans botany,—although in this expo- 
sition I had, in truth, much amplified his 
* Among the other members of the oder y of whom I have not yet spoken, 
I would chiefly mention Thénard, w as then mencing a career which 
has since become very brilliant. His pent his ere and his uprightness 
pleased me very much.” 
We pass over all De Candolle’s account of his life and domestic 
1:3 
