Sir Torbern, a celebrated chemist and natural philosopher, born in 1735, at Catharineberg, in West Gothland. His father was receiver-general of the finances, and had destined him to the same employment; but nature had designed him for the sciences. His first studies were confined to the mathematics and physics; and the efforts that were made to divert him from science having proved ineffectual, he was sent to Upsal, with permission to follow the bent of his inclination. The fame of Linnaeus at that time filled the whole kingdom; and Bergman was attracted by the splendour of his renown. He applied himself at first to the study of insects, and made several ingenious researches into their history, particularly into that of the genus of tentreda, so much preyed on by the larve of the ichneumons, which nestle in their bowels. He discovered that the leech was oviparous; and that the coccus aquaticus is the egg of this animal, from which issue ten or twelve young. Linnaeus, who had at first denied this fact, was struck with astonishment when he saw it proved. Vidi et obstupui, were the words he wrote at the foot of the memoir when he gave it its sanction. Bergman not only distinguished himself as an astronomer, naturalist, and geometrician; when the chair of chemistry and mineralogy became vacant by the resignation of Wallerius, he appeared as a competitor; and without having before this period paid any particular attention to chemistry, he published an able memoir on the preparation of alum. His dissertation was warmly attacked in the periodical publications, and Wallerius himself criticized it without reserve. The Prince Gustavus, afterwards king of Sweden, and then chancellor of the university, took cognizance of the affair; and after consulting two persons most competent to give him advice, and whose testimony went in favour of Bergman, he addressed a memorial, written with his own hand, in answer to all the grievances alleged against the candidate, to the consistory of the university and to the senate, who in consequence confirmed the wishes of his royal highness.

Bergman had now a hard duty to fulfil. He had to satisfy the hopes which had been conceived of him, to fill the place of Wallerius, and to put envy to silence. Accustomed to precision, he applied himself to experiments without paying any attention to theories; and he was the first to introduce