58 
SCHEELE  AND  HIS  DISCOVERIES. 
whimsical  in  its  simplicity,  even  when  taking  into  consideration 
the  plain  and  unostentatious  living  of  the  North.  Scheele  had 
but  one  passion — Science  ;  for  that  he  lived,  and  for  that  he  had 
originally  withdrawn  himself  from  the  stir  and  emoluments  of 
city-life,  that  in  its  service  he  might  die.  It  is  almost  impossible 
to  match  his  marvellous  devotion  to  one  object,  and  the  sincer- 
ity with  which  he  despised  wealth  and  honors.  The  King  of 
Prussia  in  vain  tried  to  have  him  at  Berlin.  The  English  Gov- 
ernment offered  him  a  post  of  distinction  and  ,£300  a  year,  both 
of  which  he  refused.  As  we  might  expect,  he  was  of  a  serious 
disposition,  and  spoke  little.  Never  in  a  hurry,  yet  he  was 
never  idle,  and  he  invariably  pursued  one  study  at  a  time. 
In  1782  the  President  of  Yirly  and  M.  d'Ellnyart,  a  Spanish 
chemist,  went  on  a  pilgrimage  to  make  the  personal  acquaint- 
ance of  Bergmann  and  Scheele.  After  having  seen  Bergmann 
at  Upsal,  and  from  him  obtained  an  introductory  letter  for 
Scheele,  they  went  to  Keeping,  found  the  humble  and  learned 
apothecary  in  his  shop,  adorned  with  the  traditional  white  apron 
(revetu  du  tablier  traditionnet) ,  and  busied  with  his  ordinary 
work.  Scheele  received  them  most  cordially,  but  kept  at  his 
business,  and  offered  no  excuse.  He  talked  with  them  on  the 
recent  progress  of  Science,  of  his  own  researches,  and  of  the 
discoveries  of  Bergmann.  "He  is  the  honor  of  Sweden,"  said 
Scheele  to  the  two  friends,  who  quite  thought  that  he  himself 
might  share  the  compliment.  The  travellers  invited  him  to  din- 
ner, but  no  sooner  was  it  ended  than  he  rose,  went  back  to  his 
laboratory,  and  let  them  follow  at  their  leisure. 
One  last  anecdote  must  not  be  omitted.  The  King  of  Swe- 
den, Grustavus  III.,  being  on  a  tour  in  Italy,  was  present  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Academy  at  Turin,  of  which  Scheele  had 
been  elected  a  foreign  member.  Much  was  said  of  the 
important  discoveries  of  the  Swedish  chemist,  and  some 
one  asked  the  King  (who  piqued  himself  on  knowing  all  the 
eminent  men  in  his  kingdom)  how  the  illustrious  Scheele  was. 
« He  is  very  well/'  replied  the  King,  who,  until  that  mo- 
ment, had  never  heard  his  name.  On  his  return  to  Swe- 
den he  hastened  to  gain  information  of  this  man,  whose  fame 
had  penetrated  Europe,  and  who  was  unknown  in  his  own 
country.    He  learnt  that  the  great  chemist  was  a  simple  apoth- 
