MEMOIR OF LATREILLE. 19 



paternal charge of him, and Latreille was indebted 

 to the friendship of this gentleman and his family 

 for the comforts and amenities of a home. At a 

 somewhat later period, a merchant of the same 

 place, M. Malepeyre, showed him much kindness, 

 and it appears to have been this generous minded 

 individual to whom the merit is to he ascribed 

 of first developing his taste for natural history. 

 His love for it, which must have been deeply 

 implanted in his nature, probably showed itself 

 at an early age, and little more would require to be 

 done than to fan the flame already kindled. This 

 M. Malepeyre did by supplying him with books on 

 the subject, and giving such instructions as he was 

 competent to offer. That under the care of these 

 and other friends who felt an interest in his welfare, 

 must have been laid the foundation of a sound 

 literary education, may safely be inferred from the 

 proofs he afterwards "gave of his proficiency. 



Besides the individuals mentioned, another of his 

 early patrons was the Baron d'Espagnac, governor 

 of the Invalides, at whose request Latreille went 

 to Paris when he was about sixteen years of 

 age. Soon afterwards he had the misfortune to 

 lose this friend, who loved him as a son, by death ; 

 but the loss was in considerable part supplied by a 

 sister of the deceased, the Baroness de Puymarets, 

 and his nephews, particularly M.Charles d'Espagnac. 

 Through the influence of this family, Latreille was 

 placed in the college of Cardinal Lemoine, where 

 he continued for a length of time, prosecuting vari- 



