184 MEMOIRS OF 



stances, and the duties he was called on to per- 

 form as a citizen, prevented the appearance of 

 this great work. The same zeal and activity, 

 united to a most conscientious fulfilment of the 

 labours allotted to him, distinguished him as a 

 magistrate ; but neither public nor private vir- 

 tues could save him from the hand of the as- 

 sassin. Returning home late one evening from 

 the Institute, he received several stabs from 

 a sword, and was found dead, the next morn- 

 ing, a few paces from his own door. 



M. Gilbert was chiefly celebrated as an agri- 

 culturist ; and he it was who was sent to Spain 

 by the government of France, to procure those 

 beautiful breeds of sheep from that country 

 which had caused such improvements in the 

 English wool. This excellent man's character 

 may be comprehended, when it is known that a 

 friend of his being suspected, and consequently 

 imprisoned, during the revolution of 1793, he 

 every month carried to the wife of the sufferer 

 the half of his own income, leading her to sup- 

 pose that the money came from her husband, in 

 order to prevent her from being aware of the 

 destitute state into which she was plunged, or 

 the danger incurred by one so dear. Full of 

 hope, M. Gilbert started on his mission to Spain 



