Biography of M. Base 277 



NapleSj humbled the King of Spain, and forced Austria to sign 

 a peace which added a fourth to the extent of France, and left 

 her almost mistress of the south of Europe. 



It might naturally be supposed that M. Bosc should be raised 

 to affluence by the man whose life he had so recently saved, and 

 who had now become one of the masters of the state. This 

 however, was not the case : M. Bosc was too proud to allow 

 himself to do good for the purpose of benefiting himself. It was 

 intended to restore to him his office, but it was at the same 

 time necessary for him to become the colleague of those who 

 had reduced him to destitution. Nothing in the world could 

 have induced him to do this, and his great protector had not 

 the power to reinstate him on any other conditions. All the 

 favour he was able to shew him was to come sometimes and 

 walk with him at the little house which had furnished him an 

 asylum. 



He experienced another keener disappointment. The young 

 lady, whom a dying mother had confided to his care, inspired 

 him with a passion which she did not return, and nothing could 

 quiet it but a long and great separation. It had been promised 

 to him, that, on the first vacancy, he should be appointed consul 

 to the United States. His friend, Michaux, at that time di- 

 rected a botanic garden in Carolina ; from him he was sure of 

 a good reception, and he determined to go and wait his promo, 

 lion on the spot. M. Bosc's voyage was attended with many 

 disagreeable circumstances. The absence of M. Michaux, who 

 passed him on his way to Europe ; a long adjournment of his 

 hopes ; the coolness at first, and then the rupture between the 

 government of the United States and that of France, disturbed 

 the tranquillity which he enjoyed in America, and were sad 

 compensations for the happiness which he at length had, in liv- 

 ing a life according to his taste, devoted to the study of the na- 

 tural sciences. 



When, in 1800, the broils between France and the United 

 States had risen to such a pitch that it became impossible for 

 French agents to remain in America, M. Bosc found himself in 

 a condition to carry contributions to all the naturalists in Eu- 

 rope. In fact, always generous, if he had new insects, they 

 were for his friend Fabricius, or for Olivier ; if fishes, he gave 



