20 MEMOIR OF 



fon, by both of whom he was received in the most 

 flattering manner. He closed the day, as he began 

 it, in a kind of enchantment ; he spent the evening 

 with his relative, the Archbishop of Lyons, where 

 he met with the elite of the academicians, and from 

 that time he determined to devote himself to science 

 and to music. This resolution was scarcely approved 

 by his family, whose interest might have advanced 

 him in the army, in the diplomatic line, or at the 

 bar. In these circumstances, a German prince, 

 whose acquaintance he made in Paris, offered to 

 procure him the brevet rank of colonel in one of 

 the smaller states. This appointment led him to 

 pay two short visits about this time to Germany, 

 where he acquired his nominal rank, with his uni- 

 form and epaulettes; and his friends being thus 

 satisfied, he was allowed henceforward to follow the 

 bent of his inclination. 



Lacepede now devoted some years very assidu- 

 ously to music. He composed an opera, which, 

 after being on the eve of performance, was from 

 some trifling occurrence suppressed. In 1785 he 

 published a work, in two octavo volumes, La 

 Poetique de la Musique, which procured him many 

 admirers, among whom the great king of Prussia, 

 Frederick II. was one, and Sacchini another. 



Shortly afterwards, Lacepede published two works 

 on physics ; one on Electricity, and the other en- 

 titled Physique Generate et Particuliere. Neither of 

 them, though both written with eloquence, procured 

 the commendation of competent judges ; and, after 



