M. FRANCOIS PERON. 19 



them with astonishment ; and, seduced by those 

 principles of false liberty which led to the Revolu- 

 tion, inflamed by what is misnamed patriotism, and 

 seduced by the examples of ancient history, lie 

 longed to embrace the profession of arms. He then 

 quitted his home, betook himself to Moulins, and 

 joined the battalion of L'Allier, towards the close 

 of the eventful year 1792. He was soon sent to 

 the army of the Rhine, and found himself at the 

 Siege of Landeau, where the garrison maintained 

 a most obstinate defence. After the siege was 

 raised, he rejoined the army in the field, fought in 

 the battle of Wissembourg against the Prussians, 

 and was again present when the French experienced 

 a defeat at Kaiserslautern. On this occasion Peron 

 was wounded and taken prisoner ; he was soon 

 conducted first to Wesel, and then to the Citadel of 

 Magdebourg. It was many years after the occur- 

 rence of these events, when, on the bosom of the 

 wide Atlantic, he entered in his private journal 

 the following reflection : " Alas ! how many ex- 

 cesses and villanies have soiled the trophies of our 

 soldiers ! how many a deep sigh have they wrung 

 from my heart ! I could not, indeed, restrain them ; 

 but I never joined in them : though I was young and 

 enthusiastic, yet the rights of misfortune were al- 

 ways sacred in my eyes." 



During his captivity he gave himself up to study, 

 to which even when on service he was much ad- 

 dicted ; and now that he had no other employment, 

 he devoted himself, without distraction, to the read 



