38 MEMOIR OP LATKEILLE. 



had destined him, from birth, to misfortune and 

 obscurity, and he ascribed his first success to that 

 protecting Providence, which happily raised up for 

 him devoted friends and proctectors. We know 

 that the attractiveness of his manners, when a child, 

 obtained for him the regard and good offices of 

 some generous citizens of Brives, his native place. 

 M. Laroche, * a skilful medical practitioner, and 

 3 lis family, took an affectionate care of the young 

 orphan; and after their example, a merchant of 

 Brives (let us give the name of such a judicious 

 and benevolent Mecasnas), M. Malepeyre, took the 

 warmest interest in him ; lent him books on natural 

 history, and never ceased to encourage and foster 

 the rising taste which his young friend already 

 showed for the science he was one day to illustrate. 

 Let us hold this benevolent individual in honour. 

 Perhaps had it not been for his mild and useful 

 benevolence, Fiance might not have had the honour 

 of possessing the first of her entomologists ! 



" When he had terminated his literary studies, 

 M. Latreille was intended for the church ; it was 

 hoped that the advantages of a calm and peaceable 

 profession would thus be obtained for him; as it 

 was, he was only delivered over to persecution and 

 terror. Having been arrested at Brives, M. La- 

 treille was sent to one of the prisons of Bordeaux, 

 and there condemned to deportation. Afflicted with 

 the same misfortunes as the illustrious Haiiy, whom 

 he had met in Paris and made his friend, Science 



* An heir of the name and sentiments of M. Laroche was 

 present at the funeral. 



