M FRANCOIS PERON. 21 



turalist, being on the eve of departure, he solicited 

 an engagement in the service ; but the complement 

 of Savants being filled up, his offer was rejected. 

 Under these circumstances, he applied to M. de 

 Jussieu, one of the Commissioners for the appoint- 

 ment of Naturalists, imploring his good offices, and 

 at the same time explaining his views with an en- 

 thusiasm which manifested he was capable of exe- 

 cuting what he so boldly planned. Jussieu listened 

 with astonishment, and advised him to present a 

 written explanation of his plan. He then recounted 

 to his colleagues his conversation with M. Peron ; 

 and, in concert with Lacepede, detei mined not to 

 repel a young man in whom was conjoined such 

 extraordinary energy, with an extent of information 

 much above his years. Some days after, M. Peron 

 read to the Institute a Memoir on the importance of 

 adding to the other Savants of the Expedition a 

 person who was at once a Physician and a Natu- 

 ralist, and who would especially undertake to make 

 researches on Anthropology, or the natural history 

 of man. Every one was delighted with the sug- 

 gestion, and the Minister conferred on Peron the 

 appointment of Zoologist to the Expedition. The 

 short time that was now at his disposal he em- 

 ployed in obtaining from Messrs Lacepede, Cuvier, 

 and others, such hints as would be useful in his 

 researches. He determined to devote his energies 

 principally to Zoology, as that portion of Natural 

 History which presented the widest and most in- 

 viting field. He procured the necessary books and 



