Lambert was not less esteemed for the amiable qualities he displayed in the intercourse of life, than he was respect ed on account of his scientific acquirements. In his man ners and habits, indeed, he exhibited many traces of his originally humble situation ie life ; hut these peculiarities were amply compensated by the excellence of his heart, and his uncommon talents. His morals were correct, and he was impeessed with a deep veneration for religious truths.
If we compare the difficulties with which Lambert had to contend with the actual extent of his knowledge, and the success with which he prosecuted his scientific re searches, he must undoubtedly appear to have been a man of no ordinary genius. Of him, it may be said with truth, that he derived his knowledge more from the re sources of his own mind, than from books ; and, hence, he always places the subject of which he treats in a new and original point of view. The sciences of logic, metaphy sics, and mathematics, were those which he chiefly cul tivated. In the two former sciences, as may be seen from his New Organon, and his Architectonic, he endeavoured to investigate our simple notions, as the basis of all philoso phical knowledge, with the same acuteness and precision as the notion of quantity is treated in mathematics. The
various branches of mathematical and physical science are eminently indebted to the researches of this philoso pher ; and his treatises on Practical Geometry, Spherical Trigonometry, Optics, Astronomy, Eric. may be studied with advantage, in the present more advanced state of the sciences which he proposed to illustrate or ex tend.
The following list, we believe, will be found to compre hend all his most important publications.
Photometria,s. de mensura et Tradibus luminis, colorum et umbra Angshurgh, 1760. 8s,o, This work is very scarce. Kosmologische Briefe. Ibid. 1761. 8vo.
Inaig'dares orbits Cometarum proprietates. Ibid. 1761. Svo. Jteues Organon. Leipsic, 1764. 2 vols. 8vo. Beytrage zunz Gebrauch der Mathematik. Berlin, 1765-1772. 3 vols. 8vo. ?rchitektonik. Riga, 1777. 2 vols. 8vo. Freye Per spectio. Zurich, 1759. Svo. Second Edition, 1774. 2 vols. 8vo. Hygometrie. Augshurgh, 1774. 8vo.
The " Berliner Ephimersden," an astronomical jour nal, on the plan of the Parisian Connoissance des Temps, was originally undertaken at the suggestion of Lam beet.