202 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY OP 



cations, IMclly, ^Yllo knew no remission of labor, often obfaincd interesting 

 results Avbicli be kept to bimself, or communicated but to a few of Lis friends. 

 Tlio tlistressiiiy- state of bis bealtb baving compelled bim, many years since, to 

 abandon bis laboratory, be did not give way to discouragement, but continued 

 to devote bimself witb tbe same ardor to tbe microscopic investigations wbicb 

 constituted tbe scientific interest of bis latter days. Of tliese be bas left but 

 few written notices; tbcir results are contained in bis collections, especially in 

 tbat of tbe Diatomea>, of wbicb be bas left more tban fifty boxes, containing as 

 Avell tbe Diatomenc of tbe environs of Geneva, as tbose of foreign lands and tbose 

 of ty})es determined by known autbors. As to tbe microscopes of wbicb be 

 availed bimself, it may be affirmed tbat never liave tbe Algaj of our country • 

 been studied witb tbe belp of instruments so perfect. Melly, besides, brougbt 

 an extreme carefulness to tbe preparation of microscopic objects; we may judge 

 of it by tbe following fact reported by Professor 'J'liury in tbe interesting notice 

 wbicb be read of bis friend : Tbe collection of Diatomeaj was twice resumed 

 entirely anew by Melly, because tbe distilled water and alcobol wbicb be bad 

 employed were found to be not absolutely pure. 



Of a conversation as frank as amiable, Melly bad, moreover, tbat devotedness 

 for otbcrs, wbose cbaracter is tbe most complete self-abnegation. Happy in tbe 

 success and welfare of bis friends, every feeling of envy and jealousy was so 

 alien from bis nature, tbat be would not even admit tbe existence of tliese evil 

 sentiments in anotber. Having suffered in bis dearest affections by tbe loss of 

 a beloved consort, be remained tbenceforward completely isolated. But tbis 

 isolation, far from rendering bim egoistic, bad still more enlarged bis beart. 

 His gratitude, for tbe cares and attentions of wbicb be was tlie ol)jcct on tbe 

 part of bis friends was as toucbing as amiable. Tbe religious sentiments wbicb 

 sustained bim in tbe midst of trials so various and afflicting were always 

 nnited in bim witb a perfect tolerance in regard to tbose wbo did not sbare bis 

 opinions. It was tbe fruit of an elevated and disinterested nature, sucb as is 

 rarely witnessed. He sank, Febrnary 4, 1SG3, after long and acute sufferings. 



Auguste Le Royer sprung from an bouorable family, and wbose ancestors 

 had been pbarmaccutists from father to son ; was born at Geneva, in 1793. After 

 pursuing his earlier studies in bis native city, be went in 1811 to Strasburg, 

 where be passed eighteen mouths of prcparanon in studying pharmacy, bis 

 future vocation. In 1813 be returned to Geneva, took an active part in tbe 

 political events of tbe time, and in 1817 was admitted a pharmaceutist after an 

 honorable examination. Tbenceforward Le Royer zealously occupied bimself 

 in scientific labors related to bis profession. It was in 1818 that the illustrious 

 Uumas, then ten years of age, entered himself as a clerk with Le Royer, and 

 Bubsoquently became his principal assistant. Besides these friendly connexions 

 with Dumas, Le Royer contracted others with Dr. Prevost, taking part in many 

 of the physiological researches of the latter in their chemical bearing. In 1821 

 be was adopted as a member of this Society and of the Helvetic Society of 

 natural sciences. Tbe departure of ]\I. Dumas for Paris, in 1823, compelled 

 Le Royer to occujty himself almost exclusively witb pharmacy, and I know not 

 that be has published anything since 1824, Nevertheless, he preserved a taste 

 for study, and always encouraged the scientific labors of tbose wbo approached 

 him. Like Etienne Melly, with whom he had more tban one trait of conformity, 

 an extreme modesty pushed almost to timidity, joined to delicate health, pre- 

 vented Le Royer from making that mai'k in science to which bo might have 

 pretended: The following is a list of the articles which be published jointly 

 with Dr. Prevost : 



1. Koteon tbe free acid contained in the stomach of the herbivore, (Memoirs 

 of the Socie/ij of Phijsics and Natural lllstorij, vol. Ill, 2d jtart.) 



2. A memoir on digestion in the rumiuants, f Bidliot/icquc U/iiverscllc Jbr 

 1824. vol. XX VII J 



