60 MEMOIR OF BARON HALLER. 



execution. The reading of new books, which were 

 sent to him from every part of the world, was the 

 only relaxation which he allowed himself. It is 

 remarkable that he even slept in his library, and 

 sometimes did not leave it for months : he always 

 took his repasts in it; and when his family were 

 there collected round him, to partake of their com- 

 mon meal, he had under his eye all that was dearest 

 to him in this world. His individual tastes and 

 manner of living were the most simple and frugal 

 possible. He ate but little and drank only water : 

 and we find that in his poem on the Alps, far from 

 condoling with the inhabitants of these mountains 

 because the vine did not flourish in their soil, he 

 regarded the privation as a benefit and a blessing. 

 The following anecdote may give us some idea of 

 his devoted activity. A short while after his return 

 to Berne from Gottingen, in ascending a stair, 

 he fell and broke his right arm. It was set by an 

 able surgeon ; and Haller instantly set to work as 

 much as possible to provide a substitute for it. Nor 

 was he long in procuring one ; for the next morning 

 the surgeon found him surrounded with his books, 

 and writing with wonderful facility with his left 

 hand ; it was with some difficulty the surgeon could 

 obtain time for the necessary dressing, and Haller 

 seemed to view the affair chiefly as rendering useless 

 one of his ordinary instruments of labour. 



His excessive devotedness to study exerted an 

 influence not only on his own character, but also on 

 every thing which surrounded him; his mansion 



