MEMOIR OP CAMPER. 69 



themselves to the 95th degree, which is by no means 



In such occupations and labours as these were ten 

 years of Camper's busy and active life passed amidst 

 a celebrity which was daily increasing. Often used 

 he to say that he considered the years he spent at 

 Groningen, as among the happiest of his life ; arid 

 probably he would never have quitted this residence, 

 had not the wishes of his wife, and his own anxiety 

 to superintend the education of his children, induced 

 him to make the sacrifice of his own enjoyments, 

 and once more to remove to the neighbourhood of 

 Franeker, at the academy of which town his sons 

 were to be placed. 



In this comparative retirement, being relieved from 

 a variety of public avocations, he rejoiced to find 

 time upon his hands, which he might employ in the 

 prosecution of his scientific pursuits. Some years 

 previous to his quitting Groningen, the small-pox 

 had been committing great ravages, and he exerted 

 himself much in endeavours to mitigate the fearful 

 plague. Inoculation was then making its way from 

 England over the Continent, and he was among the 

 first to promote its adoption. The early experi- 

 ments which he made in artificially inducing the 

 disease, under favourable circumstances, shewed him 

 its comparative safety, and consequent value ; and he 

 accordingly strongly urged its adoption in a pamphlet, 

 whicn was speedily translated into German at Leip- 



