192 MEMOIRS OF 



anatomy, and after publishing several works on 

 zoology, and passing a life of dangers and un- 

 heard-of escapes, died of a coup de soleil. 



M. Lassus was a surgeon, and though ge- 

 nerally skilful in his profession, was so unfortu- 

 nate as to bleed a royal patient twice without suc- 

 cess. The outcry w^as universal. " Une princesse 

 piqu^e deux fois, etqui n'a pas saign6 — quel ac- 

 cident efFroyable !" said the courtiers ; the physi- 

 cians shook their heads with a mysterious look ; 

 but the princess, being more generous, procured 

 M. Lassus a situation in place of that from which 

 she had been obliged to dismiss him in her 

 household, and by so doing, secured a merito- 

 rious and devoted servant, both to herself and 

 the public. With her and her sister he travelled 

 over Italy, at the time of the great revolution ; 

 and by producing his portfolios as proofs that he 

 had enriched his country with useful information, 

 evaded the law against emigrants, which would 

 have been enforced against him on his return, 

 and was appointed to the medical school at 

 Paris. 



M. Ventenat was a priest and botanist, and, 

 protected by Josephine, described the treasures 

 of her garden at Mai Maison. 



