30 MEMOIR OP 



same time with confident freedom, he demonstrated 

 what his companions had done for geography, mi- 

 neralogy, and botany ; he enumerated the objects 

 which had been procured, the drawings which had 

 been executed, and the observations and descrip- 

 tions which had been amassed, saying but little of 

 the dangers which had been endured, and the sacri- 

 fices which had been made in obtaining the collec- 

 tion. Questions were put to him, which he answered 

 promptly and satisfactorily; and the impression 

 made upon the minister was such, that, after request- 

 ing him to visit him at all times, he engaged his 

 services, to prepare for publication the nautical 

 portion of the voyage, and promised to speak to 

 the Minister of the Interior concerning the histori- 

 cal part. Accordingly, he had the same success 

 with this latter functionary, who entertained him in 

 the most flattering manner, and appointed him, 

 along with his friend Lesueur, to publish the ac- 

 count of the whole voyage, including a description 

 of those objects which were new in Natural His- 

 tory. 



Thus was Peron, all at once, placed in the ranks 

 of celebrated men ; he was courted and surrounded 

 by admirers, and took pleasure in relating what he 

 had witnessed in his voyages ; and the interest with 

 which he was listened to often induced him to en- 

 ter into minute details. 



In the meanwhile, the collection, now arranged 

 in the Museum, was to be examined, and a commis- 

 sion named by the Institute was appointed to report 



