Antoine'Laurent Jussieu. 29 



sure was walking. He still sought for plants ; and though he 

 was almost blind, as just stated, yet he closely examined them 

 till he recognised them. When his eyes completely failed he 

 endeavoured to distinguish them by the touch, and a discovery 

 so accomplished was regarded as a triumph, for it was a kind 

 of problem, or an enigma, in fact, a difficulty which was over- 

 come. This characteristic may be clearly recognised in the 

 following words, which I borrow fx'om one of his first memoirs, 

 and which give utterance to sentiments which may be most 

 appropriately introduced toward the close of this Eloge, since 

 the author, in seeking to define, in his own manner, the qua- 

 lities of a great botanist, seems to have drawn a portraiture 

 of himself: " Any man of genius," says M. de Jussieu, " may 

 make systems, and may vary them to infinity ; but the natural 

 order will never be the work of any other than a consummate 

 botanist, whose patience in examining the minutest details 

 equals his genius to deduce consequences, to draw conclusions, 

 and, in a word, to make botany a science, not of memory and 

 nomenclatm-e, but a new science, which possesses its combi- 

 nations and affinities like chemistry, and its problems like geo- 

 metry." 



The character of M. de Jussieu was developed very early in 

 life, and he most steadily maintained it. The severe habits of 

 Bernard had given it a precocious maturity. When still very 

 young, M. de Jussieu received from all those who surrounded 

 him, and many of them much his seniors, the warmest esteem, 

 mingled with respect. Like his uncle Bernard, he was very 

 pious and devout. Though a man of superior genius, and a 

 philosopher of extraordinary celebrity, he knew the secret of 

 maintaining a peaceable career ; and he found this seci'et, 

 chiefly, in the equanimity of his mind. He allowed himself to 

 be attacked, in nearly all languages, without responding. He 

 used to remark, that, if he were wrong, it was very right he 

 should be attacked ; and, if right, all attacks would prove 

 harmless. 



M. de Jussieu was twice married, first in the year 1779, and 

 again in 1791. He had two daughters by the former mar- 

 riage, and one daughter and a son by the second, a son known 

 to us all, M. Adrian de Jussieu, member of this Academy. 



