36 MEMOIR OF M. FRANCOIS PERON. 



last adieu to his friends at Paris, a duty most pain- 

 ful to himself, and to them. From an opinion en- 

 tertained of the sanatary virtue of a cow-house, his 

 bed was prepared in a building of that description, 

 which belonged to an old school-fellow and friend, 

 and where every comfort was supplied. When 

 he required nourishment, his sisters, or his un- 

 wearied friend, milked the cows, and gave him the 

 warm milk, which he took with pleasure. He was 

 now surrounded by those who were most dear to 

 him ; and disentangled from all thoughts of his re- 

 putation, he often said that his last days were the 

 happiest of his life. His friend read a great deal 

 to him, which afforded him gratification. Every 

 thing like irritability and impatience had now dis- 

 appeared, and his reflections for the future were 

 much engaged about those he left behind. In these 

 circumstances his strength rapidly declined, and he 

 breathed his last on the 14th December 1810, 

 another proof that Science has its martyrs, and that 

 its surest victims are often its most ardent and suc- 

 cessful votaries. 



