xxvin 



but although these writings are for the most part founded on actual 

 observation and real work, it can scarcely be said that they rise above 

 mediocrity. 



Flourens's first and most important memoir on the nervous system 

 became the subject of a commendatory and most instructive report by 

 Baron Cuvier in 1822, whose friendship and favour he thenceforth enjoyed. 

 Cuvier a few years after (in 1828) intrusted Flourens (as his deputy) with 

 the delivery of the lectures on Natural History at the College of France, 

 and two years later appointed him in like manner to give the lectures on 

 Human Anatomy at the 1 Jardin du Roi,' in which appointment he was con- 

 firmed as Professor in 1832. In 1835 he became Professor in the College 

 of France. 



Though rising in fame, it was probably through Cuvier's influence, 

 more immediately, that Flourens was in 1828 elected a Member of the 

 Institute, in succession to Bosc. In 1833 he was appointed one of the 

 perpetual Secretaries, on the retirement of Dulong. In this latter capacity 

 he furnished from time to time eloges of various distinguished members of 

 the Academy deceased during his tenure of office. These productions of 

 his pen, as well as his official reports and his writings generally, were 

 highly esteemed for their literary merit, and no doubt led to the much- 

 coveted distinction he received of being elected into the Academie Fran- 

 raise in 1840. 



\Yhile recognizing M. Flourens's undoubted merits, we are nevertheless 

 constrained to remark that, measured by them, his career as regards both 

 social and scientific distinction, was singularly prosperous. Besides hold- 

 ing a highly influential position in affairs of science, he was elected a 

 Member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Arrondissement of Beziers in 

 1837, and in 1846 he was created a Peer of France. He still, however, 

 retained his professorship, and suffered neither honours nor revolutions to 

 interrupt his scientific work. In his latter years he was affected with 

 softening of the brain, ending in general paralysis, to which he succumbed, 

 at his country seat Mont Geron, in the Department of Seine at Oise, on the 

 6th of December 186/. He has left three sons. 



Peter Mark Roget, M.D., died on the 12th of September, 1869, in 

 his 91st year. For the last 54 years he had been a Fellow of the Society, 

 and during 21 of these had filled the office of Secretary. The earlier 

 events of his life belong to a former page of the world's history, and to a 

 generation that has passed away. He was born in London, in Broad Street, 

 Soho, on the 18th of January, 1779. 



His father, the Rev. John Roget, was a native of Geneva. When about 

 25 years old he came to reside in London, as Minister of the French Church 

 in Threadneedle Street, founded by Edward VL, and was, two years after- 

 wards, united in marriage with Catherine, only surviving sister of the illus- 

 trious Sir Samuel Romilly, then a young man of about 20, between whom 



