l66 Letter from M. de Dree to Prnfejfor Pi£Iet, 



interefting geological fa6ls ; and he had made large collec- 

 tions for his friends. He poflTefled an excellent ftatc of 

 health, and we both enjoyed the llrongeft reciprocal friend- 

 fliip. He was cheerful, and forefaw no other chagrin than 

 that, of his fpeedy departure lo Paris, when he was attacked 

 by that dreadful malady, of which he had fo Httle expcda- 

 lion, that, on the forenoon of the day on which he fell ill, 

 he afked me where we (liould go a-mineralizing in the after- 

 noon. The violence of the fever firft attacked the brain ; and 

 we made hafle to call in the affiflance of art, but, unfortu- 

 nately, wiihout fuccefs. The (irft period of the aialadv pro- 

 duced agitation and pani : his head was lometiincs confufcd. 

 The fecond period, which may be dated from the 4th day, 

 was marked with an almofc continual dejetlion, which al- 

 ways increafed till the lad moment. Durmg the laft period 

 he experienced no pain ; he found hiuilelf eafy ; and an hour 

 before he refitined his tender and fcnfible foul into the hands 

 of his God, he llill faid he was well. In a word, he ceal'ed 

 to live by an infenfibie gradation, and like a lamp which 

 becomes extinguished for want of aliment. 



However, alter he was attacked by the difeafe he forefaw 

 the danger which threatened him ; and he beheld his laft 

 moment with that coolncfs and tranquillity which belong to 

 great minds, like his own. He was much more in pain for 

 the grief he was about to occaiion to his fifter, than for his 

 own fituation ; and the only objeifl of regret which feemcd to 

 affect him in his laft moments was that of not being able to 

 bid adieu to all his friends. You, Sir, were among the num- 

 ber of thofe for whom he had the greateft affet^iion ; and he 

 no doubt teftified to ynu the regret he experienced on hearing 

 that you was not to pafs this way on your returia from Eng- 

 land. 



If the courfe of his life has been tempeftuous and agitated, 

 by troubles occaGoned to him \u confequence of that jealoufy 

 which always atten^ds merit, his lalt moments formed a 

 ftriking contraft with that agitation; for ho gave vent to no 

 complaint againft thofe who, by the moft rigorous treatment, 

 had attacked in him the principle of exillence; and his loul 

 feems to have taken its flight from the world with calmnefs 

 and fatisfa6tion, and as if it were fmiling at the pitture of 

 life which it furveyed at the moment of its departure. 



Madam de Dree and myfelt learned, with great fenfibility, 

 the proof of attachment whicli you as well as fome of your 

 countrymen have given to the memory of Dolomieu, in re- 

 quefting to be at the expenfe of having a portrait of that ce- 

 lebrated man engraved from the excellent painting in the pof- 



fellion 



