LIFE AND WRITINGS OF BECLARD. 15 



from the rules of social morality. This can not be said of 

 Beclard. If he desired to occupy a distinguished rank among 

 his fellow men, it was never at the expense of those who fol- 

 lowed the same career as himself, that he attained it. His 

 success in the numerous competitions he had for various offi- 

 ces, had distinguished him from the multitude, and he main- 

 tained himself in the elevated rank he occupied, by his person- 

 al merit, and his indefatigable labours. He has been" accused 

 of being ambitious ; but his noble emulation was ill inter- 

 preted ; if he desired to become rich, it was the better 

 to relieve a numerous family, of which he was the glo- 

 rious support. Could a man be ambitious, who delivered 

 public lectures for more than two thirds of every day, thus 

 neglecting to seek a practice that his great reputation could 

 not have failed to procure him? Simple and modest in his taste 

 and habits, he delighted to live quietly in the bosom of a family 

 that several kinds of talents contributed to render illustrious. 



Beclard was naturally melancholy and^gloomy. His health, 

 exhausted by long continued studies, demanded the greatest 

 care. Always intensely occupied with abstract ideas, his 

 manner at first was cold, and his conversation very laconic; 

 but if by any means he was enticed away from his favourite 

 meditations, then his mind was perceived to be ornamented 

 with the lore of philosophy and history, and to possess" all 

 those charms which a man remarkable for the brilliancy and 

 variety of knowledge can infuse into his conversation. His hi- 

 larity and cheerfulness appeared only at intervals and quickly 

 vanished; an irresistible charm seemed soon to recall him to 

 the habitual sphere of his thoughts. For some time past, 

 he had given a great deal of his leisure to the perusal of works 

 on philosophy and political economy; he had also bestowed 

 much time on the study of languages, so that he was able to 

 make in society a display of another kind of merit very differ- 

 ent from that with which he obtained the applause of the medi- 

 cal profession. 



Beclard was benevolent without ostentation. A great many 

 students received from him benefits of every kind, and he 

 often left them ignorant whence they proceeded. He more 



