M. FRANCOIS PERON. 35 



sueur, and there lived almost penuriously, with the 

 sole object of increasing the comforts of his family. 



Meanwhile, his pectoral complaint made fearful 

 progress, he suffered severely from it, and his cough 

 and fever never left him. He soon came to the 

 conviction it was incurable; and that it was useless 

 to take care of himself, or to cease from his arduous 

 labours. Being urged, however, to go to Nice, he 

 thought it his duty to comply, and the journey and 

 climate, for a time, checked his malady. Upon this 

 he immediately recommenced his labours with fresh 

 ardour. He went out to sea in an open boat, and 

 spent whole days on the water collecting mollusca 

 and fishes, prosecuting those inquiries to which he 

 was devoted ; and it was only that he might not 

 distress his inseparable friend, that he would ever 

 retreat from the rain and cold, to which he fre- 

 quently exposed himself. The letters he wrote 

 from Nice were absolutely enthusiastic ; he painted in 

 the liveliest colours the joys imparted by the study 

 of Nature, and was altogether inebriated with some 

 discoveries he had made. But, after all, he was con- 

 scious the tide of life was fast ebbing ; he rejoiced 

 he had obtained a few months respite, and he so 

 improved them, that the collection he there made 

 was extremely valuable 



On his return to Paris, Peron's health became 

 worse than ever, and he had now no hopes whatever 

 of his restoration. He anticipated his approaching 

 end with surprising tranquillity, and retired to the 

 place of his nativity to finish his days. He bid a 



