36 
MEMOIR OF WERNER. 
reputation to his scholars ; and it is in fact by them 
that it has been established. In this point, also, re- 
sembling Socrates, to whom he has been compared 
in so many other respects, nothing can be known of 
his views but front the notes that have been taken of 
his lectures. Whether it was that he was satisfied 
with the indisputable ascendency which lie acquired 
by his powers of speaking, or that the vivacity of 
his imagination could not submit to the restraint and 
tediousness of writing, it was not without the great- 
est difficulty that he prevailed on himself to prepare 
for the press one or two pamphlets, and a few ar- 
ticles for the journals. But he engaged in oral dis- 
cussion as readily as could be wished, and his con- 
versation was that of a man of genius, as well as 
of benevolent feeling. For hours together he would 
continue to utter the boldest and best connected 
ideas ; but nothing could make him take up a pen. 
He had an antipathy even for the mechanical act 
of writing, which was rendered amusing by its very 
excess. His letters are extremely few. The ten- 
derest friendship, the most profound esteem, could 
scarcely extort one from him ; and at last, that he 
might not reproach himself for this want of polite- 
ness, he ceased to open such letters as were sent to 
him. One author, who was desirous to have the 
opinion of many scientific men respecting a volumi- 
nous work, circulated his manuscript among them. 
During its progress the packet was lost. After a 
thousand researches, it was at last disinterred from 
