166 MALUS. e 
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 - age when the 
Academy lost him. 
