116 MEMOIRS OF 



hospital of Bicetre; thence to that of the Salpetriere, and 

 afterwards to a chair at the Ecole de Medecine. He was 

 particularly famous for his classification of diseases, and his 

 treatment of madness. 



It would be impossible, in the brief sketch to which I am 

 limited, to do justice to the eloge of M. Fabbroni, who, from 

 the variety of his genius and knowledge demanded equal 

 variety from his biographer: and all that can be done is to 

 show a portion of the talents which have elicited this remark. 

 Like most of those who have attained great celebrity, the 

 early years of M. Fabbroni were passed in struggle and dif- 

 ficulty. His first work was entitled. '• Reflections on the 

 Present State of Agriculture: or. an Exposition of the True 

 Method of cultivating (landed) property." He became sub- 

 director of the beautiful museum at Florence, where he 

 founded lectures. Driven from this establishment by Marie 

 Louise, Gtueen of Etruria. he yet continued to serve his 

 country ; aud while carrying on various administrative du- 

 ties, pubhshed his own useful ideas concerning the arts, 

 agriculture, political economy, and the general questions 

 connected with the profoundest theories of science. The 

 wines of Italy were greatly improved by his means : and 

 Tuscany, bemg destitute of fuel; the grand Duke applied 

 to M. Fabbroni to assist in finding coal; and both Leopold 

 and his son continued to protect him, and to profit by his 

 administrative and scientific talents. When all Italy was 

 alarmed at the conquests of the French, M. Fabbroni sought 

 refiige in bis chemical studies, as applied to the useful arts ; 

 and when Tuscany had recognised the French republic, 

 he was charged with a mission to France, concerning the 

 unity of weig^hts and measures. Being in Paris at the time 

 that war was declared against Austria and Tuscany, he ob- 

 tained permission for a special conservator to be sent to Flo- 

 rence to preserve the collections there : and in consequence 

 of his care, the only thing taken from thence was the Ve- 

 nus de Medicis, and which, in fact, had been clandestinely 

 abstracted before the arrival of tbe French, and given up to 

 them by the King of Naples. The whole of M. Fabbroni's 

 life was a scene of active service : and we find him, at one 

 time, charged with delicate political missions : at others, with 

 the direction and administration of the mint at Florence ; 



