AX IMPRACTICABLE IDEA. 95 



given, full of natural feeling, and pleasing from 

 the bonhommie and simple earnestness of the 

 writer. H. Adauson's subsequent career was very 

 characteristic of the man. He published, besides 

 his voyages, the " Natural History of Senegal," 

 and a valuable work on " The Families of Plants," 

 and would in all probability have done much 

 more by his publications in aid of natural science 

 had he not adopted an impracticable idea that of 

 producing a general Encyclopaedia, a gigantic com- 

 pendium of Universal Science. His arrangements 

 and propositions were regarded as chimerical by 

 his associate savants, and proved futile. He con- 

 tinued, however, incessantly engaged in amassing 

 materials for its execution, and he drained himself 

 of all his resources in its prosecution. Firmly 

 convinced that he should eventually accomplish 

 this chef d'ceuvre, he needed no other occupation or 

 source of enjoyment. Had he listened to the voice 

 of ambition or worldly interest, he might have 

 speedily heaped to himself riches and honours. 

 The English Government having, in 1760, taken 

 possession of Senegal, sought eagerly to obtain his 

 advice and instructions relative to the best methods 

 of cultivating the natural productions of that 

 region ; and so highly were his scientific merits 

 appreciated, that the Emperor of Austria, the Em- 

 press Catherine of Russia, and the King of Spain, 



