12 HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM. 



molish this chapel to build the stair case to the 

 galleries , they were placed in a private vault. 



Such is the origin of an establishment which 

 has since attained so high a degree of prosperity. 

 The limits of this notice oblige us to trace with 

 rapidity the history of its progress and vicissitudes 

 to the end of the last century ; we will enter fur- 

 ther into particulars in describing the changes 

 effected by the reorganisation , in order to give 

 an exact idea of its present state. 



The death of de la Brosse was a great misfor- 

 tune : those who succeeded him , had neither the 

 same zeal nor the same activity. The professors, 

 depending on the will of the superintendants , 

 were repetedly changed ; nor were the lectures 

 given Avith punctuality. Fourqueux, counsellor of 

 the parliament, was named to replace de la Brosse, 

 and it was impossible for him to bestow the re- 

 quisite attention on the business of cultivation 

 and instruction. Vespasian Robin alone gave les- 

 sons in botany. The superintendant however ob- 

 tained funds for the construction of a green house 

 and a large basin. 



Bouvard, on quitting the place of first physician, 

 Avished to retain that of superintendant of the 

 king's garden. This arrangement was defeated by 

 Vautier his successor , on the ground that by the 

 terms of the edict the superinten dance of the gar- 



