62 MEMOIR OF BARON HALLER. 



the same plan; and it was thus he acquired that 

 almost incredible erudition of which his works are 

 such striking proofs. 



Upon the whole, the disposition of Haller was 

 somewhat austere, and he long retained the impres- 

 sions first made upon him, whether of favour or 

 of injury. On some occasions he exhibited an 

 arbitrary conduct, even towards his children, and 

 frequently required considerable sacrifices at their 

 hand. This trait became more conspicuous with 

 his advancing years. Oppressed with infirmities, 

 and also loaded with dignities and favours, not 

 having the resource even of forming new desires, 

 and abandoned solely to the passion of study, every 

 thing which had no connexion with it had no charm 

 for him. In fact, this in the long run very much 

 altered his character, and no one could have dis- 

 covered in him the affectionate friend of Gesner, 

 and the 'fascinated and devoted admirer of his Ma- 

 rianne. 



Haller was about the middle stature; he had 

 much life in his eye, much expression and noble- 

 ness in his physiognomy, and he united great mental 

 strength with a prodigious and unceasing activity. 

 In a word, he was gifted with powers of which few 

 men in a generation or an age are possessed, and 

 he used them with almost unexampled assiduity. 

 He was perhaps both the most voluminous and 

 learned writer since the time of Galen. It has 

 been alleged that his writings are somewhat ob- 

 scure; but even his enigmas merit consideration. 



