624? Historical Notice 



held by its author in 1789, especially with regard to classi- 

 fication ; but we see that he has remained a stranger to none 

 of the discoveries of modern anatomy and physiology ; for he 

 thought that all should concur to the completion of the natural 

 method, to which all parts of vegetable organisation could serve 

 as a basis. Even to the last days of his life, he occupied 

 himself in retouching this work, which carried him back to 

 his past studies, and was a pleasant occupation of mind. At 

 this period, his extremely weakened sight being no longer 

 able to direct his fingers, he was often obliged to have recourse 

 to another's hand : but he did not cease his employment. 



We are persuaded that this last work of so illustrious a 

 man, written at the age of eighty-three and eighty-four j^ears, 

 and notwithstanding worthy of its author's best years, will be 

 read with interest by naturalists, who will take pleasure in 

 comparing this final performance with that which serves as 

 an introduction to the Genera of 1789. It is, besides, a 

 homage due to the memory of one of those men who have 

 contributed most to render our country illustrious ; and we are 

 happy to be able to append this production to the present 

 notice. 



If the works of M. De Jussieu place him in the first rank 

 among men of science, we mav also cite him as a model for 

 the sweetness of his character. Full of kindness for all those 

 who gave themselves up to the study of science, encouraging 

 those who distinguished themselves there, entirely devoted to 

 the progress of botany, seeking only truth, acknowledging his 

 own errors with candour, and pointing out those of others 

 without bitterness, he was never drawn into the polemics of 

 science; we cannot quote, either in his principal work or his 

 numerous published papers, an expression which might be 

 wounding to any of his contemporaries ; and yet he has done 

 more for the advancement of science than many of those who 

 have engaged in contest in support of their ideas. His were 

 true : they had no need to be vehemently upheld : left to 

 themselves, they have penetrated by little and little into science, 

 and have ended by being every where admitted. By this 

 means, he had the happiness of joining to the respect which 

 his superiority as a naturalist merited the friendship of all the 

 men who could appreciate it ; and the young, for whom he 

 was full of benevolence, showed a veneration truly filial. 



Surrounded with testimonies of respect and regard, entirely 

 devoted to the study of science, and never extending his 

 ambition beyond this circle; happy in the bosom of a numer- 

 ous family, and seeing himself revive, as it were, in a son who 

 sustained his name worthily, and who, during his lifetime, had 



