Memoir of Charles Alexander Lesueur. 191 



The bold cliffs of Normandy, termed les falaises, are remarka- 

 ble for their savage aspect, and their geological formation. That 

 part of them which forms the Cape la Heve, near the entrance of 

 Havre, is the most conspicuous object to the mariner as he ap- 

 proaches the port. The shore, at the base of the Cape, is often 

 frequented by the inhabitants; the youth, especially, resort thither 

 for the purpose of collecting the rejectamenta of the sea ; and 

 among the cliffs those wander who take an interest in the singu- 

 larities of nature, or who are pleased with an extensive prospect. 

 Amid these scenes the boyish days of Lesueur were spent ; it was 

 here that he imbibed a love of natural history, augmented by his 

 talents for delineation. It was with a view of the ocean perpetu- 

 ally before his eyes that he cherished those visions of fancy, which 

 were at length realized in his voyage to the southern hemisphere. 



It is stated above that among the young men who solicited 

 employment in the expedition was Mr. Lesueur, then in his 

 twenty-third year. The zeal and vivacity which he exhibited 

 were powerful recommendations in his favor, independent of re- 

 spectable influence ; but he was warned of the inconveniences 

 and privations to which he would be liable on shipboard, where 

 every appropriate, place was already occupied. He however al- 

 lowed nothing to daunt him ; and he was enrolled among the 

 crew of the Geographe under the designation of jiovice-timonier, 

 which, in English marine vernacular, might be rendered green- 

 born or lubber. 



In the enumeration of the geologists, it has been said that there 

 were five. In the original plan of the scientific department, it 

 was designed that there should be but four, two in each ship. 

 Ultimately, at the suggestion of the Institute, a fifth was added ; 

 and as this individual," during the whole progress of the voyage, 

 performed a most effective part, in conjunction with the subject 

 of this memoir, it becomes proper to state who he was, and what 

 were the motives of the Institute in favoring the application of 

 the supernumerary. 



Francois Peron was born at Cerilly, a town in the Department 

 of Allier, in the year 1775. His father died while he was yet a 

 child, leaving his mother with but slender means, and three chil- 

 dren to support. By dint of rigid economy, she was enabled to 

 place him in the college of Cenlly, the principal of which, at- 

 tracted by his docility, gave particular attention to his instruction, 

 On the termination *of his collegiate studies, the ecclesiastical 

 ^tate was suggested to him ; but the stirring events of the French 

 devolution influenced a mind naturally ardent, and he resolved to 

 embrace the military profession. At the age of seventeen he en- 

 tered the army as a volunteer ; and at the battle of Kaiserslauteru 

 be was wounded and made a prisoner by the Prussians, who con- 

 fined him in the citadel of Magdeburg. At the close of the year 



