444 
the absolute neglect in which a 
Government, occupied. in con- 
quering, and not in preserving, 
left. the asylums of the victims 
of war. 
We ought to bear the most 
striking testimony of the care 
which he took of the young per- 
sons employed under his orders, 
the friendly manner in which he 
received them, encouraged them, 
and rewarded them. His protec- 
tion extended to them at what dis- 
tance soever they were carried ; 
and we know more than one who 
was indebted for his life in far 
distant climates to the provident 
recommendations of this paternal 
chief. 
But his activity was not restrict- 
ed to the duties of his place; 
every thing which could be useful 
occupied his attention. 
When, the steam-engines were 
established, he satisfied the pub- 
lic of the salubrity of the waters 
of the Seine. More lately he oc- 
cupied himself with ardour in the 
establishment of economical soups. 
He contributed materially to the 
propagation of vaccination. It 
was he chiefly who introduced into 
the central pharmacy of the hos- 
pitals at Paris the excellent order 
which reigns there; and he drew 
up the pharmaceutic code accord- 
ing to which they are directed.— 
He watched over the great baking 
establishment at Scipion, where 
all the bread of the hospitals is 
made. The Hospice de Menages 
was under his particular care ; 
and he bestowed the most minute 
attention on all that could alle- 
viate the lot of 800 old persons 
of both sexes, of which it is 
composed. 
At a period when people might 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1815. 
labour much, and perform great 
services, without receiving any re- 
compense, wherever men united 
to do good, he appeared foremost ; 
and you might depend upon being 
able to dispose of his time, of his 
pen, and, if occasion served, of his 
fortune. 
This continual habit of occupy- 
ing himself for the good of man- 
kind, had even affected his exter- 
nal air. Benevolence seemed to 
appear in him personified. His 
person was tall; and remained 
erect to the end of his life; his 
figure was full of amenity; his 
visage was at once noble and gen- 
tle; his hair was white as the 
snow—all these seemed to ren- 
der this respectable old man the 
image of goodness and of virtue. 
His physiognomy was pleasing, 
particularly from that appearance 
of happiness produced by the good 
which he did, and which was so 
much; the more entitled to be 
happy, because a man who without 
high birth, without fortune, with- 
out great places, without any re- 
markable genius, but by the sole 
perseverance of the love of good- 
ness, has perhaps contributed as 
much to the happiness of his race 
as any of those upon whom Na- 
ture and Fortune. have accumu- 
lated all the means of serving 
them. 
Parmentier was never married. 
Madame Houzeau, his sister, lived 
always with him, and seconded him 
in his benevolent labours with the 
tenderest. friendship. She died at 
the time when her affectionate care 
would have been most necessary to 
her brother, who had for some 
years been threatened with a chro- 
nical affection in his breast. Re- 
gret for this loss aggravated the 
disease 
