218 
MEMOIR OF DAUBENTON. 
managed to accomplish the means of doing all this good 
to his country and to humanity ? 
The universal acclamations of his fellow-citizens 
answer for me against such accusations. The last and 
most solemn marks of their esteem have terminated a 
most useful career in a manner most glorious ; perhaps 
we have even to regret that they shortened its course. 
Having been nominated a member of the conserva- 
tive senate, he was desirous to fulfil his new duties as 
he had discharged those of his whole life. He was 
obliged to make some change in his regimen. The 
season was very severe. The first time he attended a 
meeting of the body who elected him, he was struck 
with apoplexy, and fell senseless into the arms of his 
alarmed colleagues. The most prompt assistance could 
restore consciousness only for a few minutes, during 
which he appeared, as he always had been, the tran- 
quil observer of Nature. He continued to touch with 
his fingers, which were not deprived of sensation, the 
different parts of his body, indicating to his attendants 
the progress of the paralysis. He died on the 31st 
December, 1799, at the age of eighty-four, without 
suffering; so that we may say, that he attained a 
happiness, if not attended with the most brilliant 
accompaniments, at least more perfect and free from 
mixture than we can reasonably expect here. 
His funeral was such as became one of our first 
magistrates, one of our most illustrious philosophers, 
and one of our most respectable citizens. People of all 
