616 Original Articles. ‘ [Oct., 
discoveries have been made by those observers who, regardless of 
trouble, fatigue, and dangers, have trusted themselves at sea, and have 
lived the mode of life of the coral fisher. 
No one would, indeed, dream of assigning a higher scientific value 
to the researches of Marsigli and Peyssonnel than to those of Swam- 
merdam and Reaumur; but on which side do we find truth and 
accuracy? The first-named naturalists elicited new facts, and saw 
things of which the latter remained ignorant, from this one cause— 
that they studied the animal still living, and in its normal conditions, 
and did not draw their conclusions from the dried-up specimens of 
natural-history cabinets. Have we not here a striking proof of the 
advantages to be derived from studying animal forms, not alone among 
the accumulations of museums, but also under those conditions of 
existence which are peculiar to them, meeting with them, as it were, 
in their own homes? In this line of inquiry lies, indeed, the future 
advancement of the natural sciences. 
The discovery of Peyssonnel seemed so incredible to Reaumur, 
that he would not even publish the name of its author. De Jussieu 
was not more open to conviction, and it was not until after the publi- 
cation of Tremblay’s memorable investigations in regard to the fresh- 
water hydra, that attention was directed to the dicta advanced by 
Peyssonnel. Then Reaumur wished to explain away his opposition, 
but it would seem that the ardent naturalist and traveller, confident of 
the accuracy of his researches, and mortified by the opposition of the 
French savans, had forwarded his memoirs to England, where they 
were examined and published, from 1756 to 1759, in the ‘ Philosophical 
Transactions.’ 
Peyssonnel had merited a widely different reception. An impetu- 
ous and courageous enthusiast, a true child of the South, he did not 
shrink before danger or fatigue during his stay on the coast of Africa, 
then so hostile to an explorer. On other grounds, too, he had well 
earned the esteem of his fellow-citizens. In 1720, during the terrible 
plague which desolated Marseilles, he shut himself up with his father 
in the hospital of the Holy Ghost, there to attend to the plague- 
stricken, abandoned by all others. 
His admiration for nature induced him to devote a part of his 
fortune to the founding of a prize to recompense studies in marine 
natural history. The Academy of Marseilles refused it. 
It is painful to see Peyssonnel, full of success in his first endea- 
vours, withdraw himself from the scientific arena when the savans 
rejected his discovery, which undoubtedly was one of the greatest of 
modern times. He no doubt resented the erroneous judgment upon 
his labours with the promptitude and warmth of feeling manifested by 
every man who, being a follower of truth and loving science for her- 
self, feels that he is crushed by the lofty position of those who judge 
him rather than by the force of the arguments which they have 
marshalled against him. 
He accepted the post of Royal Physician at Guadaloupe, and it 
would appear that in so doing he exiled himself at the same time 
from his country and from science. No further communication is 
