24 M. Flourens' Historical Eloge of 



posing them, which has long been sedulously prosecuted, — will 

 be perfected. 



M. de Jussieu published his work in the year 1789. Al- 

 most always shut up in his cabinet during yeai'S of unceasing 

 labour, he had remained a stranger to the political move- 

 ments which were then agitating the whole nation. The last 

 sheets were scarcely terminated when he found himself ap- 

 pointed, in one of the departments, to the mayoralty of Paris. 

 This mayoralty, formerly considered as but one office, was 

 now divided, as is well known, into many departments, and 

 that of the superintendence of the hospitals fell to M. de 

 Jussieu. It was upon this occasion that he published his Be- 

 ports upon the Hospitals of Paris, — a species of labour highly 

 calculated to render science respectable ; and in which the 

 author had been hitherto preceded only by one member of this 

 Academy, whose remembrance will never cease to be admired 

 by mankind, I mean Bailly, alike illustrious and unfortunate. 



In the year 1793, the Jardin des Plantes received a new or- 

 ganization, and took the title of the Museum (VHistoire Na- 

 tiirelle. Daubenton was its first director, and M. de Jussieu 

 succeeded him. During these difficult times, Jussieu wholly 

 devoted himself to the administration of this superb establish- 

 ment, to Avhich were closely allied the celebrity of his name, 

 and his family recollections. 



On the formation of the Institute, he naturally became a 

 member. He was one of the first Presidents of the New Aca- 

 demy of Sciences; and he was Vice-President of the year 

 which was distinguished by having Napoleon for President. 



In the year 1804, the chair of the Materia Medica of the 

 Medical Faculty having become vacant by the death of Peyrilhe, 

 Jussieu offered himself as a candidate, and all other applicants 

 immediately retired. On becoming professor, he took, as the 

 foundation of his lectures, the fertile principle of the agree- 

 ment of the properties of plants with their botanical affinities ; 

 a principle which he had pointed out at an early period of his 

 career ; and a new application of the natural method, perhaps 

 of all others the most proper to extend the domain of Materia 

 Medica. In the year 1808 he was appointed a member of the 

 Council of the Universitv. 



