BARON CUVIER. 115 



to better times, M. Richard had to re-commence the same 

 sort of hfe which he had led at fourteen years of age. As 

 a man of science he remained as great as ever ; his disser- 

 tations were astonishing proofs of the extent and sagacity of 

 his views ; but his temper, soured by so many misfortunes, 

 never recovered its tone, and he died, at the age of sixty- 

 seven, after much bodily and mental suffering. 



Few who have been in the habit of visiting the Jardin 

 des Plantes within the last forty years will be ignorant of 

 the name, at least, of M. Thouin. He there succeeded his 

 father as head gardener, and uniting science and the most 

 enlightened views to practical knowledge, and placing his 

 affections on the improvement of his garden, he became a 

 centre of correspondence for all parts of the world. His fine 

 countenance, noble and engaging deportment, and his in- 

 teresting conversation, caused him to be sought by the most 

 elevated, as well as the most humble, in the ranks of hfe. 

 He died in 1824. 



The Count de Lacepede is presented to us in three diffe- 

 rent points of view ; first, as a practical and theoretical mu- 

 sician of considerable skill : secondly, as a man of science : 

 and, thirdly, as a statesman ; and crowning the whole by 

 mingling the most invariable politeness, the most amiable 

 deportment and feeling, and highest moral excellence, with 

 all his duties. He died, at the age of sixty-nine, of the 

 smallpox. 



The eloges of MM. Halle, Corvisart, and Pinel, three 

 great physicians, are united into one. The first of these 

 w^as the active promoter of vaccination, was skilful in his 

 treatment of chronic disorders, and was equally celebrated 

 for his charity. M. Corvisart, who lost several opportunities 

 of promotion because he would not wear a bag wig, was at 

 length appointed to the direction of the Hopital de la Cha- 

 rite, and afterwards to a professorship at the Ecole de Me- 

 decine. His fame spread through Europe, and, before he 

 died, he became head physician at court. M. Pinel prepar- 

 ed himself for the study of medicine by a knowledge of ma- 

 thematics and natural history, but, unable to express him- 

 self, in consequence of a most invincible timidity, he was 

 long neglected. When, however, his merits once became 

 known, he rose rapidly in fame ; he was appointed to the 



