30 MEMOIR OF 



objects of his bounty. His liberality usually antici- 

 pated their requests, and he often allowed them to 

 suppose that his private charities flowed from the 

 public funds. Much he bestowed without the re- 

 cipients knowing whence it came. A gentleman 

 who held a high office, having ruined himself by 

 speculation, abandoned his family, and Lacepede 

 caused 500 francs per month to be regularly trans- 

 mitted to his wife, till her son was old enough to 

 support her; and this lady always imagined she 

 received her income from her husband. 



A young man who was employed in one of the 

 offices under his controul, appeared depressed and 

 ill. The Count supposed there was some latent 

 cause of anxiety, and employed his physician to dis- 

 cover what it was. Having learned that the young 

 man's circumstances were hopelessly embarrassed, 

 he immediately sent him 10,000 francs : the gentle- 

 man hastened to him with tears in his eyes, in- 

 treating him to fix the terms of reimbursement ; 

 " My friend," he replied, " I never receive any 

 thing of that sort." 



What rendered his disinterestedness in every 

 degree conformable with his munificence, was the 

 fact, that he had very few personal wants. He had 

 no expenses but what were required by the situa- 

 ations which he held. He never possessed more 

 than one suit at a time. After dressing in the 

 morning he never changed throughout the day. His 

 diet was as simple as his clothing. From the age 

 of seventeen he never drank wine, and a single and 



