BONNET AND HALLER 417 



laxity and his too great readiness to set up private judgment 

 against authority. Bonnet tells de Saussure of Haller's agitation, 

 and of his resolve not to aggravate it by carrying the argument any 

 further. He writes : ' You know the sort of orthodoxy our 

 excellent friend held it resembled that of his equal, the great 

 Pascal, and it is astonishing that the genius of these two men, 

 unique in their kind, was not crushed under the overpowering 

 weight of such a creed.' Haller complains in 1766 : ' I recognise 

 with pain that I grow heavy with age and incapable of taking 

 exercise from lack of energy. Then I have no one to encourage 

 or aid me. Thus our field of action contracts once it was the 

 world, to-day it is the town, soon it will be the house, the room, 

 the bed, and the tomb.' These moods were, however, only a 

 passing cloud. He retained to the end his mental qualities ; 

 memory and industry coupled with a sound judgment of men as 

 well as of things. He could criticise a nation or an individual 

 with equal trenchancy and shrewdness. Thus of Germany he 

 said : ' Science is a chest full of coin ; nothing is added by 

 counting a hoard already in existence. The German man of 

 science is only a cashier.' Again to de Saussure he wrote : ' I hold 

 you happy to have devoted to nature time which more studious 

 youth is apt to devote to books. I felt myself instinctively the 

 disadvantage of this and drew myself close to nature, contrary to 

 the custom of the Germans.' He could frame epigrams on 

 politics : ' Tender hearts must not love . If one loves one's country 

 dearly one must not serve it. A paradox, but unluckily true.' 

 Again, ' Public calamities are the only remedies to check the 

 progress of luxury and irreligion. From this point of view public 

 misfortunes may be presents from Providence more precious even 

 than peace and abundance.' In personal criticism of his con- 

 temporaries he could be caustic and uncompromising. Buffon 

 he dismissed as too pretentious, Reaumur as too popular, Duhamel 

 as too dry. 



Haller's character and learning were such that he obtained a 

 certain respect even from Voltaire, who on occasion was very 

 polite to his stalwart adversary. Haller seems to have amused 

 rather than annoyed the old cynic. For instance, Voltaire wrote : 

 * I shall always find time to assure you of my esteem, and even of 

 my love, for I should like you to realise that you are very lovable,' 



2D 



