166 ' MALUS. 



existence an unspeakable happiness. The most cele- 

 brated academies of Europe were envious to secure him 

 as an associate. He was loved, honoured, and esteemed 

 by all who knew him. He might look forward to fresh 

 and brilliant discoveries of which his genius gave prom- 

 ise. He possessed, in a word, after the warlike labours 

 of his youth, all that could attach him to life. It was at 

 this juncture that, to the loss of his connections, of his 

 friends, of the sciences, and the national glory, life failed 

 him. 



A consumption, of which he felt the first symptoms 

 about the middle of 1811, made rapid and alarming 

 progress, perhaps from some seeds of the plague which 

 still lurked in his debilitated constitution. 



Our colleague did not believe himself fatally attacked ; 

 for on the evening before his death, he exacted from one 

 of his friends a promise to accompany him in the course 

 of the week to Montmorency, whither he wished to retire 

 for a short time to breathe the country air. But I can 

 cite a still more demonstrative proof, if possible, of the 

 illusion under which he laboured till the last. Returned 

 from Egypt with the full persuasion that consumption is 

 contagious, and above all that it follows attacks of the 

 plague, he nevertheless allowed Madame Malus, with his 

 head reposing against hers, to watch his least motions, and 

 constantly to be surrounded with the atmosphere which 

 he had breathed. 



To the last this admirable woman could not believe in 

 the misfortune which threatened her ; and when the 

 illustrious savant breathed his last, it was needful almost 

 to use violence to detach her from the inanimate body of 

 her husband. She survived him only a few months. 

 Malus was only thirty-seven years of age when the 

 Academy lost him. 



