MEMOIR OF PALLAS. 55 



135.) Pallas laboured at it till his last days, and 

 had completed the manuscript, including all the 

 vertebrate animals; and M. Rudolphi, who had 

 seen the work, states that it described many new 

 species and contained many interesting views. 



Nor was Pallas engrossed only with his own 

 publications, but with much kindness and praise- 

 worthy zeal he exerted himself to do justice to the 

 memories of his less fortunate associates. Though 

 during his travels and afterwards, much annoyed 

 with ophthalmia, one of his most distressing but 

 not most dangerous complaints, yet he had fared 

 better than most of the others, few of whom lived 

 to publish the relation of their adventures. Both 

 Gmelin and Guldenstredt had fallen victims in the 

 service, and Pallas, in 1784, undertook the task of 

 publishing their papers, and executed it with great 

 diligence and accuracy ; though we believe that 

 these works, like several more peculiarly his own, 

 but very partially saw the light. 



It was about this time that our naturalist was 

 distinguished by a peculiar mark of imperial favour, 

 in being appointed member of the Board of Mines, 

 with a salary of £200 a-year, and honoured with 

 the order of Ylodimir. The Empress likewise pur- 

 chased his ample collection of natural history, in a 

 manner highly flattering to the owner and honour- 

 able to herself. Being informed that he was desirous 

 of disposing of the collection, the Empress informed 

 him that the country could not be deprived of so 

 excellent a museum; that she would become the 



