Memoir of Charles Alexander Lesueur. 213 



In the month of September, 1838, the writer of this Memoir 

 visited Paris ; and had the happiness of embracing his old friend, 

 whom he had not seen for thirteen years. Mr. Lesueur was then 

 residing at No. 16, Rue Neuve St. Etienne, not far from the Mu- 

 seum of the Garden of Plants. He had brought from the United 

 States a valuable collection of specimens of natural history ; and 

 all his precious drawings and manuscripts, the fruits of his re- 

 searches in his voyage with Peron, and those subsequently made 

 in the West Indies, and on the continent of North America. Per- 

 haps no individual then living possessed a greater fund of mate- 

 rials for works of the highest interest in natural history ; materi- 

 als destined, in a great measure, it is feared, to be useless, for the 

 want of that mind which alone could direct their application. 



Sometime in the year 1843 or 1844, the project of founding a 

 museum of natural history in the city of Havre, was set on foot ; 

 and Mr. Lesueur, who had taken a great interest in the measure, 

 was looked to as one eminently capable of filling an important 

 office in an establishment, which was indebted to his personal ex- 

 ertions for much of its favor with the community. In 1845 he 

 was chosen Curator of the Museum ; and he removed to Havre 

 in order to superintend the building, which was advancing to- 

 wards completion. 



On the 9th of May, 1846, he thus writes to me : " I hasten to 

 acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th of April, which 

 reached me via Paris. I am occupied at this time in arranging the 

 collections of our cabinet. As my presence is now essential, I 

 have taken a small country house, not far from Havre. It is sit- 

 uated in a quiet valley, a short distance from the sea, which is 

 visible from our windows. Should you return to France, you 

 must come and stay with us. We have a small chamber reserv- 

 ed for your accommodation. Come without ceremony, and par- 

 take of our pottage, which you know is excellent. How rejoiced 

 I should be to see you once more ! A little omnibus stops daily 

 at our door, and you would be spared the fatigue of going and 

 coming. Our Museum, with its library, would afford you recre- 

 ation in town, and when fatigued you might retire to my apart- 

 ment, so that you need not fear ennui." 



The letter from which the foregoing extract is made, derives 

 additional value from the circumstance that it was the last that I 

 ever received from my estimable correspondent, whose life was 

 near its close, although nothing, in his external condition, indica- 

 ted such an event. Ft was his practice to set out early in the day 

 from his country residence, for the museum; but on the 11th of 

 December, the weather being unsettled, and feeling himself indis- 

 posed, he resolved to remain at home. During the ensuing night 

 he complained of oppression at the breast ; and a physician pre- 

 scribed blisters, without suspecting immediate danger. The dis- 

 ease was beyond the reach of remedy ; and he expired on the 



