14 



as a natural inclination, was merely the effect of 

 example ; and it was further excited by a cir- 

 cumstance that happened during his vacation: 

 at a public sale in the neighbourhood, an old 

 clock had remained unsold, owing to its bad con- 

 dition, and he persuaded his father to give six 

 francs for it. The ardent boy soon took it to pieces 

 and cleaned it ; he even added some parts that 

 were wanting, and put the whole in order without 

 assistance. In 1799, that is, fifty-four years 

 afterwards, this clock was purchased at a higher 

 price than was given for the estate and house 

 together where it had originally been sold ; having 

 during the whole of that time preserved its move- 

 ment in the most satisfactory manner. He once 

 undertook the same operation for his mother's 

 watch, and succeeded perfectly, though he was 

 then only e'^ght years of age. These details are 

 sufficient to shew how impossible it is to predict, 

 from the whims of childhood, the vocation likely 

 to engage any individual at a more advanced 

 period of life. This little boy appeared to have 

 a genius for mechanics, in consequence of cir- 

 cumstances attending his infancy but no one 

 has shewn less taste for mechanics than Guyton 

 de Morveau, during his long and brilliant career 

 as a chemical philosopher.'* 



. My uncle told us to-day a curious mode 



