74 HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM. 



The wretchedness of the times was now sen- 

 sibly felt ; the reduced state of the finances, the 

 depreciation of the funds, the cessation of foreign 

 commerce , and the employment of every species 

 of revenue and industry for the prosecution of 

 the war, were serious hindrances to the project- 

 ed improvements. 



And indeed, not only during the first years of 

 terror and destruction, but from 1795 to the end 

 of the century, the establishment presented asto- 

 nishing contrasts. Houses and lands of great value 

 were annexed to the garden, magnificent collec- 

 tions were acquired, and the most useful build- 

 ings were commenced ; yet every thing languish- 

 ed within : much was undertaken , and nothing 

 completed. Funds were wanting to pay the 

 workmen, to provide nourishment for the ani- 

 mals, and to defray the expence of the collec- 

 tions. Potatoes were cultivated in the beds des- 

 tined for the rarest plants, and the establishment 

 was threatened with a decay the more irre- 

 parable as it affected all its parts. One obstacle 

 being surmounted others started up : the funds 

 received were bestowed on the object of most 

 immediate necessity, and others scarcely less im- 

 portant were neglected. However, when the 

 public distress had attained its utmost height, not 

 a moment of discouragement was felt by the ad- 



