SUPPL. VOL. II. Part II.
Spallanzani followed the progress of the French chemistry with much satisfaction, nor was he long before he adopted it; it was calculated for a just conception like his, delighting to give an account of every phenomenon he observed. The solidity of principles in this new doctrine, the precision in its way of proceeding, the elegance of its interpretation, the generality of its consequences, presently replaced in his mind the hesitations and the obscurities of the ancient chemistry; and his heart anticipated with pleasure the triumphs that it was about to obtain.
In 1791, Spallanzani published a letter addressed to Professor Fortis, upon the Penet Hydrocope. He there relates the experiments which he had directed to be made for ascertaining the degree of confidence which might be allowed to the singular talents of this man; but he ingeniously confesses, that he is not decided upon the reality of the phenomenon.
Spallanzani has often discovered that which might have been deemed impossible. In 1795 he made a discovery of this nature, which he published in his Lettre sopra il sospetto d'un nuovo senso nei Pipistrelli. We therein learn that the bats, if blinded, act in every respect with the same precision as those which have their eyes; that they in the same manner avoid the most trifling obstacles, and that they know where to fix themselves on ceasing their flight. These extraordinary experiments were confirmed by several natural philosophers, and gave occasion to suspect a new sense in these birds, because Spallanzani thought he had evinced by the way of exclusion, that the other senses could not supply the deficiency of that sight which he had deprived them of; but the anatomical details of Professor Jurine, upon the organ of hearing in this singular bird, made him incline afterwards towards the idea, that the sense of hearing might in this case supply that of sight, as in all those where the bats are in the dark.
Spallanzani concluded his literary career for the public, by a letter addressed to the celebrated Giobert; Sopra la piante chiuse ne' vasi dentro l'acqua e l'aria, esposte a l'immediata lume solare e a l'ombra. It is a misfortune for this part of the science, that his death has deprived us of the discoveries he was about to make in it.
These numerous works, printed and applauded, did not however contain all the series of Spallanzani's labours. He had been occupied a considerable time upon the phenomena of respiration; their resemblances and differences in a great number of species of animals; and he was busily employed in reducing to order his researches upon this subject, which will astonish by the multitude of unforeseen and unexpected facts. He has left a precious collection of experiments and new observations upon animal reproductions, upon sponges, the nature of which he determines, and upon a thousand interesting phenomena which he knew how to draw out of obscurity. He had almost finished his voyage to Constantinople, and had amassed considerable materials for a History of the Sea, when an end was put to his life and his labours.
On the 4th of February 1799, he was seized with a retention of urine, the same night was unquiet, and in the morning he lost all powers of reason, which he never recovered but during very short intervals. His intimate friends, Tourdes, a French physician, and the celebrated Professor Scarpa, did every thing which
could be expected from genius, experience, and friendship, to save him; but he died the 17th, after having edified those around him by his piety. This lamentable event overwhelmed all his family in sorrow, occasioned the tears to flow from all his friends, filled his disciples with a deep affliction, and excited the regret of a nation proud of having given him birth.
The reader cannot but have perceived in this sketch the strain of panegyric, rather than the calm narrative of impartial biography. It is, in fact, an abridged translation of an éloge by a citizen philosopher of Geneva, who has adopted the calendar, and probably the principles of republican France. Some abatement therefore will naturally be made by every Briton of the praises bestowed upon the piety of Spallanzani; but after proper allowance of this kind, truth will proclaim him a very great man. Accordingly, France, Germany, England, all were eager to avail themselves of his works by means of translations. He was admitted into the academies and learned societies of London, Stockholm, Gottingen, Holland, Lyons, Bologna, Turin, Padua, Mantua, and Geneva. He was a correspondent of the academy of sciences of Paris and of Montpellier; and received from the great Frederic himself the diploma of member of the academy of Berlin.