THIRD PERIOD. ill 



guished by sound erudition and nobleness of cha- 

 racter, died of fatigue at Madagascar. He had 

 studied the language of that island, and was re- 

 commended to one of the Kings, whose two 

 sons were residing in Paris for their education. 

 It was expected that he would make known 

 the productions of a country, the interior parts 

 of which have never been explored by any 

 naturalist (i). 



These fatal accidents, however, are far from 

 damping the ardour of those engaged in similar 

 pursuits ; and, young men are every day solicit- 

 ing the favour of being sent into distant and 

 barbarous climes. The success of more fortunate 

 adventurers, and the hope of attaching their 

 names to some important discovery, render them 

 insensible to the most painful sacrifices. To re- 

 presentations of the dangers and privations to 

 which they will be exposed, they answer with 

 Euryalus : 



Mene igitur socium summis adjungere rebus , 

 Nise , fugis ? 



Est hie, est animus lucis contemptor, et istum 

 Qui vita bene credat emi, quo tendis honorem. 



Having thus traced the successive improve- 

 ments of the Museum, it only remains to notice 

 the progress of instruction and the professors 



(3) Tbe third, M, Plee, is now in the West Indies. 



