AN IMPRACTICABLE IDEA. 95

given, full of natural feeling, and pleasing from
the bonkommie and simple earnestness of the
writer. M. Adanson’s subsequent career was very
characteristic of the man. He published, besides
his voyages, the “Natural History of Senegal,”
and a valuable work on “The Families of Plants,”
and would in all probability have done much
more by his publications in aid of natural science
had he not adopted an impracticable idea—that of
producing a general Encyclopedia, a gigantic com-
pendium of Universal Science. His arrangements
and propositions were regarded as chimerical by
his associate savants, and proved futile. He con-
tinued, however, incessantly engaged in amassing
materials for its execution, and he drained himself
of all his resources in its prosecution. Firmly
convinced that he should eventually accomplish
this chef deuvre, he needed no other occupation or
source of enjoyment. Had he listened to the voice
of ambition or worldly interest, he might have
speedily heaped to himself riches and honours,
Lhe English Government having, in 1760, taken
possession of Senegal, sought eagerly to obtain his
advice and instructions relative to the best methods
of cultivating the natural productions of that
region; and so highly were his scientific merits
appreciated, that the Emperor of Austria, the Em-
press Catherine of Russia, and the King of Spain,