CHEMISTRY. 



Hi.t.iry. fj a t the admiration which it excited, at the at- 

 "~"~'~~ * tachment winch chemists displayed for it, and the 

 violence with which they supported it. 



A system of chemistry, published in 17:12, contri- 

 buted, perhaps, as much as the theory of Stahl, 

 though in a very different way, to the improvement 

 and subsequent popularity of chemistry. This sys- 

 BoerhuYf. tern was written by Bocrhaave, one of the most ac- 

 complished philosophers, anil perhaps the most cele- 

 brated physician that ever flourished in modern Eu- 

 rope. A surreptitious copy of his chemical lectures 

 hating been printed by some of his pupils, he was 

 under the necessity, in 17.'5'2, of revising and publish- 

 his system of chemistry : a system which con- 

 tained a much fuller collection ot chemical experi- 

 ments, and more exact directions for repeating them, 

 than any previously offered to the world. The 

 bounds of the science were enlarged by this acute 

 philosopher, who had stored his mind with the prin- 

 ciples of mechanical philosophy. His account of 

 tire, of thermometers, and other similar chemical in- 

 struments, was excellent, considering the period in 

 which he wrote. 



The taste for chemistry which these celebrated 

 men had inspired, together with the numerous aca- 

 demies and societies of different kinds all over Eu- 

 rope, who dedicated a portion of their time to che- 

 mical researches, occasioned numerous publications on 

 that subject, and several discoveries of importance were 

 the result. The science became more and more -re- 

 spectable, and the Stahlian theory was more complete- 

 ly developed, especially in Germany and in France, 

 where several chemists of eminence siicct-ssively cul- 

 tivated the science. Among the German chemists, 

 MargruiT. none holds a higher rank than Margraafl, a member 

 of the Berlin Academy, to whom we are indebted for 

 some very important discoveries. He first had the 

 courage to call in question the authority of Stahl ; 

 and his experiments on phosphorus destroyed one of 

 the strong holds upon which the Stahlian theory de- 

 pended. RoveUe and Macquer, two Frenchmen, 

 and associated teachers, were scarcely less celebrated ; 

 the first as a skilful practical chemist, the second as 

 an eloquent lecturer. The first may be considered 

 as the founder of the chemistry of animal bodies as 

 it exists at present. When he published his ana- 

 lysis of urine and blood, he had scarcely any model. 

 To Macquer, born at Pans in 1718, we are indebted 

 for an elementary treatise on chemistry, written with 

 such simplicity and perspicuity, that it stamped the 

 form of subsequent works, and was even used in the 

 different universities of Europe. We are indebted 

 to Macquer also for a dictionary of chemistry, first 

 published in 17'ili, winch contributed in no common 

 degree to the improvement of the science. In this 

 work, tin- different chemical substances and instru- 

 ments were described, the theories were jex plained 

 and examined, the improvements still wanted were 

 pointed out, the errors and imperfections were stated 

 with a clearness and warmth which never fail to in- 

 terest the reader. This dictionary was translated 

 into Italian, German, and English ; and the transla- 

 tors, who were all well acquainted with the subject, 

 rendered it still more complete by their valuable notes. 

 Chemistry was still far from being on footing 



Routlle 

 and Mac- 



with mechanical philosophy. The reasoning em- Hiitory. 

 ployed was often loose and unsatisfactory, and fre- S ~"Y"~ 

 quently amounted to nothing more than far-fetched 

 and ill-conducted analogies. The correction of these 

 faults required all the influence of a man who had 

 been accustomed to the rigid accuracy of mathema- 

 tical demonstration, whose profound mind had em- 

 braced every part of human knowledge, whose 

 sound judgment could not be biassed by prejudice, 

 whose industry was not to be overcome by fatigue, 

 or want of health, whose candour and love of truth 

 were not to be shaken, and who generously sacrifi- 

 ced himself to the improvement of the science*. Nor 

 need we name this philosopher. Every one who is Bergman, 

 not a total stranger to chemistry must have heard of 

 Bergman, whose very name is a sufficient panegyric. 

 This illustrious Swede was born in 1735, at Calhcr- 

 inberg, in West Gothland. His father was receiver 

 of the revenues in that province, a post at that time 

 neither very lucrative nor respectable, which induced 

 him to urge his son to assume the profession of Itvr 

 or divinity. Young Bergman accordingly went to 

 Upsal with that intention, and commenced his stu- 

 dies under the inspection of a friend. But he very 

 soon testified a dislike to both the professions for 

 which he was intended, while he manifested a violent 

 passion for mathematics and philosophy. His tnend 

 remonstrated with some severity, and pointed out 

 the imprudence of his choice. Bergman listened in 

 silence, but still persevered in his favourite pursuits. 

 His friend deprived him of his books, restricted his 

 studies, and left him only to choose between law and 

 divinity. This restraint almost proved fatal : Berg- 

 man's health declined ; it was found necessary for 

 him to leave the university, and return home. His 

 relation?, finding it in vain to struggle with his incli- 

 nations, at last indulged them, and left him at liberty 

 to pursue those studies of which he was so distract- 

 edly fond. 



At that time Liimzus, after having surmounted 

 obstacles sufficient to have crushed a man of ordina- 

 ry energy, was in the height of his glory, and was 

 revered ever) 1 where as the patriarch of natural his- 

 tory. He had infused the enthusiasm which actua- 

 ted his own breast into the minds of his pupils, and 

 at Upsal every student was a natural historian. Berg- 

 man, in particular, attached himself to Linnzus, and 

 bestowed much pains on botany and entomology. 

 This last branch of natural history is deeply indebt- 

 ed to him. Hi' first displayed in it those powers of 

 arrangement which constitute the charm of !us w<jt*.t>, 

 and that penetration which pfWuoedtafanMffdpfB^h 

 important fruits. On his return to the university, 

 he imparted Ins discoveries to LJMMMH, who sent 

 them with a very flattering panegyric to the Acade- 

 my of Stockholm, ' Vidi cl (>/>.,/ u/mi !" 



In the year 17()1, Berg m jminted teacher 



of mathematics and natural philosophy at Upsjl. 

 He was in this situation in 1767, when W.illerius, at 

 that time professor of chemistry at Upsal, resigned 

 his chair. Bergman offered himself as a candidate 

 for the vacant professorship. But Walleruis had 

 other plans. There was a relation of his own whom 

 he wished to succeed him, and the professor* at Up- 

 sal had to much influence that few doubted but hr 



