MEMOIR OF PALLAS. 55 
135.) Pallas laboured at it till his last days, and 
had completed the manuscript, including all the 
vertebrate animals; and M. Rudolphi, who had 
seen the work, states that it described many new 
species and contained many interesting views. 
Nor was Pallas engrossed only with his own 
publications, but with much kindness and praise- 
worthy zeal he exerted himself to do justice to the 
memories of his less fortunate associates. Though 
during his travels and afterwards, much annoyed 
with ophthalmia, one of his most distressing but 
not most dangerous complaints, yet he had fared 
better than most of the others, few of whom lived 
to publish the relation of their adventures. Both 
Gmelin and Guldenstredt had fallen victims in the 
service, and Pallas, in 1784, undertook the task of 
publishing their papers, and executed it with great 
diligence and accuracy ; though we believe that 
these works, like several more peculiarly his own, 
but very partially saw the light. 
It was about this time that our naturalist was 
distinguished by a peculiar mark of imperial favour, 
in being appointed member of the Board of Mines, 
with a salary of £200 a-year, and honoured with 
the order of Vlodimir. The Empress likewise pur- 
chased his ample collection of natural history, in a 
manner highly flattering to the owner and honour- 
able to herself. Being informed that he was desirous 
of disposing of the collection, the Empress informed 
him that the country could not be deprived of so 
excellent a museum; that she would become the 
