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raade so brilliant a debut , upon thp world of science , as Lalande , nor was any Savan ever rewarded ^ during so long . a course of years , with so many scientific honours , or feasted with more intoxicating
homage . Before toe age of twentyfive , \\ q was admitted into almost all the learned academies of the world ; and pensioned by the
principal nionarchs of the continent . He travelled through nearly all the states of Europe , and was tvevy wherq received with demonstrations of the most enthusiastic
respect , not only by the learned of every description , but by all who were most distinguished in rank or fortune . In Italy , upon which lie wrote the best book of travels
now extant , he was overwhelmed with attentions by Clement the thirteenth , and pursued , from the remotest extremities of that
country , by its most distinguished ornaments in every department of knowledge and taste . He found his bust in most of the observatories of Germany , and was
greeted with the surname of the Gad of A&troi \ omy i * i some of the cities of the north . His reception ia England was of the most flatter , iag kind , and , in fact , all his jour nies were but a continued
succession of triumphs * Before he had passed the age of thirty , he numbered among his correspondents and bis priyate friends , sorpe of
the reigning princes of Germany , and almost every author or Savan ot note in . Europe . His works would embrace more than si ;> cty ponderous volumes , * and
corres-^ * The chief of these is his History of JVstrQaqrny , in four volumes , 4 to . the bast elementary treatise , on that science , tJut has ever b « eij published .
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pond by their learning and utility to the high reputation which he enjoyed . It is not , therefore , much to be wondered at ? if the circum . stances of his early life produced that delirium of vanity , iflmay be allowed the expression , which marked his character in the last
stages of his career * In the conversations which I had with him not many months before his death , I frequently saw occasion to , admire both the
brilhanpy of his imagination and the copiousness of his knowledge ; but it was impossible to confiae him , for any length of time , to a rational strain of discourse . His
mind reverted incessantly to his favourite theory of Atheism and to hi $ own personal merits , upon which he expatiated with a com . placency that would have been irresistibly ludicrous , if it had not exhibited so melancholy a
proof , of the imbecility of human nature , even when most eminently gifted . VVhen he spoke , however , of republican institutions and of this country , he displayed a
liberality of sentiment and an ardent attachment to the cause of free * dom / which , with me , made full amends for his egotism . His passion for astronomical studies nevei ;
deserted him : —until the moment of his dissolution , he was engaged in deep calculations apd in ™ most elaborate researches . ^ was at all times lavish of his i ° tune ia favour of the i nterests ot
science , and gave to the Institute , in the year 1802 , a considerable sum in perpetuity , the interest o which was to be allotted to we person who produced the e work on Astronomy , or mad e t « mqst important discovery * in tfl ^' scieiiqe . ia the ^ qurse of the y ^
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2 QtJ Account of Lalan de * the Astronomer .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1811, page 266, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2416/page/10/
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