190 Biography of Berzelius. 



On the contrary, there are other specially-gifted men, who, 

 possessing in a high degree the talent for investigation, recog- 

 nise with marvellous penetration where the aid of experiment 

 is needed, and frequently, by a few apparently very simple 

 facts, clear up our views in a surprising manner, overthrow 

 long-established prejudices, and advance science with gigan- 

 tic strides. 



It is rarely that men of the latter kind follow up and com- 

 plete their scientific conquests. They generally content 

 themselves with having shewn, by their discoveries, in what 

 direction the study of details is to be pursued, and, after 

 having pointed out the course and the method of filling up the 

 gaps, resign the execution of the work to others. 



Such a man was Humphry Davy. There are none who 

 will not acknowledge that at the commencement of this 

 century, chemical science received through him, by the 

 discovery of the metallic nature of the alkalies, a most ex- 

 traordinary impulse. But, however industriously and in- 

 cessantly he occupied himself for years with experiments con- 

 nected with his great discoveries, — experiments which led to 

 the development of entirely new views, and enriched in a 

 remarkable manner many branches of the science, still he 

 was unable to cultivate it in its entire extent. During his 

 unfortunately too brief career, while advancing from dis- 

 covery to discovery, he had neglected to give his attention to 

 the details of the science ; and when he attempted to combine 

 chemical facts into a system, and to publish an elementary 

 work on chemistry, it soon became evident that he was not 

 fully equal to this undertaking ; and of his " Elements of 

 Chemical Philosophy," only the first part of the first volume 

 appeared. 



But when a man possessed of the most remarkable powers 

 of investigation enriches all branches of his science with the 

 most important facts, distinguishes himself equally in em- 

 pirical and in speculative researches, embracing the whole 

 in a philosophic spirit, while, at the same time bringing the 

 details into complete systematic order, and, lastly, occupying 

 the lofty position of a practical and theoretical teacher of an 

 inquiring circle of pupils, he fulfils the highest requirements 



