30 M. Flourens' Historical Eloge of 



By a remarkable contrast, in the midst of the many resem- 

 blances which he had to his uncle, M. de Jussieu loved the 

 sweets of society, as Bernard did those of solitude. His society, 

 it is true, was limited almost to his own family, which, how- 

 ever, was very numerous. Besides those already named, he 

 had almost adopted two nephews, and a niece who subse- 

 quently became his daughter-in-law. By every member of 

 this famUy M. de Jussieu was quite adored. His second wife 

 and his eldest daughter especially, tended him with religious 

 and affectionate care. In this all the other members partici- 

 pated, or, at all events, wished to participate. On his part, 

 again, M. de .Tussieu had an exhaustless affection for all his 

 relatives. He took particular delight in gathering his grand- 

 children round him, in witnessing their amusements, and 

 amusing himself with them ; and he found that his library, at 

 least, possessed this virtue, that the figures of flowers and 

 animals with which it abounded often kept them in his com- 

 pany for whole hours. He loved young people greatly ; and, 

 having enjoyed the privilege of long life, he was no stranger 

 to the drawbacks which are attached to this privilege. He 

 lost one by one the majority of his early friends ; in the same 

 proportion new generations supphed him with others ; and he 

 died surrounded by young botanists, whose affection charmed 

 him not less than their respect. 



M. de Jussieu became much bent dovni with increasing 

 years, but naturally he was very tall. His constitution was 

 robust. To his taste for bodily exercise ; to his habits of active 

 mental employment, and which he continued till the last ; and 

 to the assiduous care of every sort with which he was siu"- 

 rounded, he appeared to owe his excellent health, which was 

 interrupted only at the close of his life, and then only by some 

 slight indispositions. His fatal malady began with slight in- 

 disposition ; but speedily, from the obstinate and entire defect 

 of action of the digestive functions, the worst was appre- 

 hended, and he died on the 17th day of September 1836, aged 

 88 years, 5 months, and 5 days. 



For nearly half a century, dm-ing which time his great work 

 has been pubUshed, Jussieu' s superiority has been undisputed 

 by any one ; and he saw all the botanists around him la- 



