Biography of Baron Leopold von Buck. 13 



He possessed a certain nervous irritability of temperament 

 which, in his intercourse with others, and particularly when 

 on his journeys, sometimes gave rise to somewhat odd scenes 

 and situations ; but the inborn good nature of his character 

 always brought him off in triumph. He had a strict sense 

 of justice, and in this respect he would not tolerate the 

 slightest violation. But not on this point alone but on every 

 other, he was an extremely line-feeling man, however little 

 this may have been betrayed by his external appearance. 

 Incompleteness or frivolity in the treatment of science was 

 his aversion. His memory was exceedingly ready and re- 

 tentive. 



He was never married, but he rather enjoyed conversation 

 with talented women. He never kept a male domestic. A 

 staid elderly woman had the care of his household. When 

 he quitted Berlin it was seldom that any mortal knew to what 

 point of the compass he had turned his face, or when he might 

 be expected back again. He was just the same man upon a 

 journey ; he arrived unexpected, visited his friends, but none 

 of them ever discovered when he meant to be off again. 



He possessed a sufficient amount of worldly goods, not 

 only for the supply of all his own wants, but also to bring 

 considerable sacrifices to science and to general benevolence. 

 He was always ready with his assistance to struggling youth- 

 ful talent, and never withheld scientific recognition where it 

 was due. 



The departed will now r have attained a survey of those 

 mysteries in the structure and origin of the earth, which even 

 his clear-seeing spirit could not compass during its abode 

 upon its surface. This enlivening hope I dedicate to the 

 memory of the departed illustrious naturalist and the beloved 

 friend. Blessed be the remembrance of the man whose 

 name (to use the expression of Snethlage at his interment) 

 is venerated as far as civilisation has extended its empire, and 

 whose death will create a pang in Germany, in Europe, and 

 beyond the waves of the ocean. 



