CHAPTER IV
FROM this day natural philosophy, and particularly
chemistry, in the most comprehensive sense of the term, became
nearly my sole occupation. I read with ardour those works, so full of
genius and discrimination, which modern inquirers have written on
these subjects. I attended the lectures, and cultivated the
acquaintance, of the men of science of the university; and I
found even in M. Krempe a great deal of sound sense and real
information, combined, it is true, with a repulsive physiognomy and manners, but
not on that account the less valuable. In M. Waldman I found a
true friend. His gentleness was never tinged by dogmatism; and
his instructions were given with an air of frankness and good
nature, that banished every idea of pedantry. In a thousand ways
he smoothed for me the path of
knowledge, and made the most abstruse enquiries clear and
facile to my apprehension. My application was at first
fluctuating and uncertain; it gained strength as I proceeded, and
soon became so ardent and eager, that the stars often disappeared
in the light of morning whilst I was yet engaged in my
laboratory.
