The Life and Writings of M. Dcsfontaines. 'HOH 



dence of success is a sure pledge of the future. Tlie young Desfon- 

 taines from that time pursued a course of stubborn assiduity ; his ef- 

 forts were successful, and at the end of the year he obtained several 

 prizes. In announcing his success to his father, he begged him to 

 communicate the fact to his old master and to remind him of his pre- 

 diction that he could never do any thing. He persisted in this sort 

 of vengeance, on every occasion of fresh success, and certainly it was 

 a species of malice that was very often repeated. It was only until 

 after his election to the Academy of Sciences, that he thought his 

 revenge sufficient, and that he ceased his malign communications. 

 Those who were acquainted with the mildness and habitual modes- 

 ty of Desfontaines will find it difficult to recognize these qualities in 

 this trait of his youth ; but he had been deeply wounded, and even 

 in a heart as good and affectionate as his, there may be found, from 

 time to time, a feeling of vivacity and something of a Bretonnic 

 Spirit. 



At the termination of his studies at Rennes, Desfontaines came to 

 Paris to study medicine ; but in the pursuit of his medical studies he 

 felt himself drawn by the impulse of a decided taste towards Bota- 

 ny, and it was unquestionably this impulse, which, by diverting huu 

 from the practice, retarded his admission to the Doctorate. This 

 did not take place until 1782, at which time he was about thirty, 

 years of age. During his medical studies he had occasion to con- 

 nect himself with Lemonnier, first physician to the king and profes- 

 sor of Botany in the garden of plants. Lemonnier, without attain- 

 ing the highest ranks of science, contributed much to its progress in 

 France, by the influence which his situation gave him over the most 

 eminent statesmen, and the honorable use which he made of it in the 

 encouragement of young naturalists. Commerson, Michaux, La- 

 billardiere, Desfontaines, were indebted to his protection for a por- 

 tion of their success.* Alas ! it was almost at the same moment 



* J. J. Houton de Labillardiere, member of the Academy of Sciences, born at 

 Alencjon in 1775, died at Paris the 8lh of January, 1834, fifty three days after his 

 most intimate friend Desfontaines. He had made a journey in Syria under the 

 protection of Lemonnier and was afterwards in the expedition of D'Entrecasteaux 

 in search of La Peyrouse. He published five Decades of the plants of Syria, the 

 narrative of his voyage round the world, two volumes of the plants of New Hol- 

 land, one on those of New Caledonia, and some memoirs. I could not advert 

 to him without rendering homage to his memory and to the services he has ren- 

 dered to science. 



