The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-01-22

Russia. lie placed in Mr.. Gallatin's
hands a manuscript Code for Pennsyl'
vania but being soon afterwards called
10 Ghent, and much occupied with pub.
lie business, he had moi an opportunity
to examine the manuscript till his return
to America, when il was too late to take
it into consideratlon.-At this Bonthan
was very much vexed. Mr.. Galatin
said he had tried to insinuate to Bent
ham at the time that his business was
to write scientific treatises OF the prin>
ciples of legislation, not to draw up
codes for nations living at d stance,
and whom he had never seen-but with
out success.
HUMBOLDT AND Ia PLACE.
Mr.. Galldtin said lie never had any
idea that he possessed abilities or infor-
nation at all out Of the common way,
until ne went to Europe as ambassador.
lie had always read good deal, and
felt himself pretty familiar with history ;
but he found few persons in the United
States whose taste for reading had been
like his own, with whom he could con-
verse on the topics which had occupied
his attention. He had heard and read
Of the great men Of Europe, and had
formed the most exalted opinion of their
learning. On meeting some of them
IN Paris, he felt reluctant to associate
with them, supposing that they were so
much il advance of him in knowledge
But when he found that he was quite as
well versed in most subjects as those for
whom he had entertained so high an o.
pinion, and, moreover, that in general
knowledge some Of these great men
were lamentably deficient, he then first
began TO be more conscious of his own
abilities.
The great men for whom he, in COM
mon with all others, had entertained SO
much respect, were often deficient on
subjects with which every educated or
well read man is here familiar For
Baron llomboIdt, Mr.. GalIalin always
had the highest pect--the most ex-
alted opinion. for his varied and pros
found learning, as well as for the excel,
lence of his heart and simplicity of his
manners.
With La Place, Mr. Gallatin was long
on terms Of intimacy, and esteemed him
for his excellent qualities. lie was a
regular visitor at his soirees, where he
met all the great men then residing in
Paris.
Speaking Of La Place on one occa-
sion, he said the world was already de-
celved as to the extent of his acquires
ments lie had formed high opnion
Of him before he knew him, but Baron
Humboldt told him he would be dlsap-
pointed, and so it proved. "La Place. >
he said, twas an extraordinary man only
in single department Of science, Mdth-
cmaticS. With that wonderful machine
the Calculus, he was able to accomplish
the most splendid discoveries and re,
suits, which had immortalized his name
He seemed to possess an intultive fac
ulty with the calculus, by which he ar
rived at once at the solution of the
grandest problems in the science of &C.
lestial mechanics. No man had ever ac-
compished so much in this field, and
with such wonderful facility. But, "
continued he, "in this consisted his
whole mind. OF other things he knew
nothing, and would not, among scholars,
have passed for a learned man. Napo-
leon made him Minister of the Interior
and he held the office but for ten days
lie was unable to fill the place"
"There was a vast difference" said
he, "betwcen the mind OF La Place and
that of Newton. Newton's discoveries
convinced him that there was a great
first cause-a Supreme Being who gov
erncd all things ;--bu, the philosophy OF
La Place led to materialsm. He re-
loiccd, too, that he was permitted to live
to see the nebuluus theory of La Place,
the tendency of which, on his mind, was
bad, overihrown by the recent discove,
ries through the telescope of Lord
Rose, which resolved those nebule in
to stars" Mr.. Gallatin had great hor-
ror of atheism and materialism.
MR.. GALLATlN's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Great as Mr.. Gallatin was as a inan-
cier, he never seems TO have emplove /
his talents for his personal advantage,
although opportunities were often pre-
sented to him by which he might have
enriched himself Que or two anec,
dotes may be mentioned in proof of this
While Secretary of the Treasury, il
was necessary on one occasion to pay
the interest due by the United States on
loan made in Holland. This inter.
est was to be paid in London, and the
late Mr.. Astor made proposals to Mr.
Gallatin to provide the necessary funds
in the manner stated in the agreement
when the loan was made. Mr.. Gallatin
stipulated certain conditions to Mr.. AS
tor, which, after due reflection, were ac-
cepted. But it seems that he did not
exercise the same sagacity which mark
ed his other financial operations, for, in
disposlng of it, or in fulfilling his con-
tract, he found himself minus some
5000 sterling. or about S50,000.-
This loss, ," Mr.. Gallatin observed 10
me, :" did not seem to cause Mr.. Astor
so much uneasiness as the circumstance
that | should have shown more financial
knowledge and shrewdness than he, and
he ever after expressed the highest conf
dence in my opinions, and manifested a
strong attachment for me. When left
the Treasury in lSl6, Mr., Astor made
me pressing offers to associate myself in
business with him, but declined."
expressed some surprise to Mr.. Gal
latin, and said, " Why dld you not ac-
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