they offered him his degree of doctor in philofophy, a dignity correfpondent to that of mafter of arts among us. Barretier drew up that night fome pofitions in philosophy, and the mathematicks, which he fent immediately to the prefs, and defended the next day in a crouded auditory, with fo much wit, fpirit, prefence of thought, and ftrength of reafon, that the whole univerfity was delighted and amazed; he was then admitted to his degree, and attended by the whole concourfe to his lodgings, with compliments and acclamations.

His Thefes or philofophical pofitions, which he printed in compliance with the practice of that univerfity, ran through feveral editions in a few weeks, and no teftimony of regard was wanting that could contribute to animate him in his progrefs.

When they arrived at Berlin, the king ordered him to be brought into his prefence, and was fo much pleafed with his converfation, that he fent for him almost every day during his ftay at Berlin; and diverted himself with engaging him in converfations upon a multitude of fubjects, and in difputes with learned men; on all which occafions he acquitted himself so happily, that the king formed the highest ideas of his capacity, and future eminence. And thinking, perhaps with reafon, that active life was the noblest sphere of a great genius, he recommended to him the study of modern hiftory, the customs of nations, and those parts of learning, that are of use in publick tranfactions and civil employments, declaring that such abilities properly cultivated might exalt him, in ten years, to be the greatest minister of state in Europe. Barretier, whether we attribute it to

his moderation or inexperience, was not dazzled by the prospect of fuch high promotion, but anfwered, that he was too much pleased with science and quiet, to leave them for fuch inextricable ftudies, or fuch haraffing fatigues. A refolution fo unpleafing to the king, that his father attributes to it the delay of those favours which they had hopes of receiving, the king having, as he obferves, determined to employ him in the ministry.

It is not impoffible that paternal affection might fuggeft to Mr. Barretier fome falfe conceptions of the king's defign; for he infers from the introduction of his fon to the young princes, and the careffes which he received from them, that the king intended him for their preceptor; a scheme, fays he, which fome other refolution happily destroyed.

Whatever was originally intended, and by whatever means these intentions were fruftrated; Barretier, after having been treated with the highest regard by the whole royal family, was difmiffed with a prefent of two hundred crowns; and his father, instead of being fixed at Stetin, was made paftor of the French church at Hall; a place more commodious for study, to which they retired; Barretier being first admitted into the Royal Society at Berlin, and recommended by the king to the univerfity at Hall.

At Hall he continued his ftudies with his ufual application and fuccefs, and, either by his own reflections or the perfuafions of his father, was prevailed upon to give up his own inclinations to thofe of the king, and direct his enquiries to thofe fubjects that had been recommended by him.

He

He continued to add new acquifitions to his learning, and to encrease his reputation by new performances, till, in the beginning of his nineteenth year, his health began to decline, and his indifpofition, which, being not alarming or violent, was perhaps not at first fufficiently regarded, increased by flow degrees for eighteen months, during which he spent days among his books, and neither neglected his studies, nor left his gaiety, till his diftemper, ten days before his death, deprived him of the use of his limbs he then prepared himself for his end, without fear or emotion, and on the 5th of October 1740, refigned his foul into the hands of his Saviour, with confidence and tranquillity.

MORIN*.

L

EWIS MORIN was born at Mans, on the 11th of July 1635, of parents eminent for their piety. He was the eldest of fixteen children, a family to which their estate bore no proportion, and which, in perfons less refigned to Providence, would have caused great uneafiness and anxiety.

His parents omitted nothing in his education, which religion requires, and which their fortune could fupply. Botany was the study that appeared to have taken poffeffion of his inclination, as foon as the bent of his genius could be discovered. A coun tryman, who supplied the apothecaries of the place, was his first master, and was paid by him for his inftructions with the little money that he could procure, or that which was given him to buy fomething to eat after dinner. Thus abftinence and generofity difcovered themselves with his paffion for botany, and the gratification of a defire indifferent in itself was procured by the exercise of two virtues.

He was foon master of all his inftructor's knowledge, and was obliged to enlarge his acquaintance

• Tranflated from an eloge by Fontenelle, and firft printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1741.

with plants, by observing them himself in the neighbourhood of Mans. Having finished his grammatical studies, he was fent to learn philofophy at Paris, whither he travelled on foot like a ftudent in botany, and was careful not to lose such an opportunity of improvement.

When his course of philofophy was completed, he was determined, by his love of botany, to the profeffion of physick, and from that time engaged in a course of life, which was never exceeded either by the oftentation of a philofopher, or the feverity of an anchoret; for he confined himself to bread and wa ter, and at most allowed himself no indulgence beyond fruits. By this method, he preserved a constant freedom and ferenity of fpirits, always equally proper for ftudy; for his foul had no pretences to complain of being overwhelmed with matter.

This regimen, extraordinary as it was, had many advantages; for it preferved his health, an advantage which very few fufficiently regard; it gave him an authority to preach diet and abftinence to his patients; and it made him rich without the affistance of fortune; rich, not for himself, but for the poor, who were the only persons benefited by that artificial affluence, which, of all others, is moft difficult to acquire. It is easy to imagine, that, while he practifed in the midst of Paris the fevere temperance of a hermit, Paris differed no otherwife with regard to him, from a hermitage, than as it fupplied him with books, and the conversation of learned men.

In 1662 he was admitted doctor of phyfick. About that time Dr. Fagon, Dr. Longuet, and Dr. Galois, all eminent for their fkill in botany, were employed. VOL. XII.

M

in