Mr. Swainson's Memoir q/'Lacepede. 75 



inencement of those troubles which terminated in great horrors, 

 M. de Lacep^de was called to the legislative assembly. Here his 

 temper and moderation were eminently conspicuous; he long 

 struggled to repress the first devolopements of those dreadful 

 principles of anarchy, which soon spread through his devoted 

 country, like a pestilential disease, corroding and destroying the 

 root of all moral and religious feeling ; but the voice of reason or 

 persuasion could no longer be heard or regarded in the popular 

 frenzy: he withdrew until the storm was spent; and until he 

 was again solicited to resume his duties at the Museum of Natural 

 History. Some years afterwards, the reputation he had acquired 

 again called him to the Senate, and subsequently he had the 

 honour of being chosen Grand Chancellor of the Legion of 

 Honour, and was created a Peer of France. 



In his political life M. de Lacepede was distinguished for his 

 mildness, his moderation, and his love of justice. He laboured to 

 establish order, to lessen the severity of certain arbitrary laws, 

 and to render others more mild and supportable to the people; 

 and such was the influence of his well-regulated mind, and of his 

 reputation as a moral man, that his voice could moderate the 

 angry discussions of that tumultuous assembly of legislators, over 

 which he presided. He may be considered, as one of those very 

 few, who after having fulfilled important and public functions, 

 have not left an enemy to reproach their conduct, with a single act 

 of tyranny or injustice. 



In Science as in politics, M. de Lacepede was remarkable for 

 a love of truth, and a spirit of order and arrangement, which per- 

 vaded all his habits. His works are characterized by purity 

 of style, and by the enlarged views and conceptions of the 

 philosopher. 



His leisure hours were devoted to the elegant amusements of 

 the accomplished man. His love of music led him to acquire a 

 knowledge of its principles, and his compositions, which have been 

 previously attended to, in this and in other arts, shew the taste and 

 cultivation of a mind naturally sensitive and alive to beauty. In 

 private life he was affable, mild in his prejudices; and united great 

 delicacy of feeling with a noble and exalted mind. It has been 



