Memoirs of M. 
nary studies without which there is no 
true science, thouglit it necessary to have 
him removed from home, and according- 
ly placed him in succession at different 
colieges appropriated-to the belles lettres. 
But young Broussonnet, at the same time 
that he distinguished himself among his 
companions in the cominon objects of 
their studies, found opportunities also for 
pursuing his own particular inclination. 
_ He was able to indulge himself much 
more in this respect, on his return to 
Montpellier for the purpose of studying 
medicine; where, by gathering herbs in 
the day-time, and dissecting in the night, 
he crowded the apartments of his father 
with his botanical collections and_ his 
anatomical preparations. Yet notwith- 
standing these accessory labours, he made 
such a rapid progress in the regular course 
of medical study, that at the age of 
eighteen he received the degree of doctor, 
and the university of Montpellier solicit- 
ed the chancellor of Franee for his 
Succession to the professorial chair of 
his father on its future vacancy. 
His Thesis on Respiration,* which he 
had maintained some months before, in 
reality justified this proceeding, which 
otherwise bore the appearance of being 
premature. It is an excellent piece of 
comparative anatomy and physiology, 
exhibiting such facts as were then known 
with equal genius and learning, and anti- 
cipating the rudiments of several of the 
discoveries which have been recently 
made on this important subject. 
He visited Paris for the first time, for 
the purpose of procuring the confirmation 
of his appointment as eventual successor 
to his father’s chair; but the minister, 
perhaps forming an opinion of him from 
his youth, or influenced by some irrelevant 
suggestions, was not forward in dispatch- 
ing this business; and Broussonnet, con- 
ceiving new ideas in the metropolis, and 
feeling that he could there open for him- 
self a different prospect from that which 
he had contemplated at Montpellier, de- 
sired his father not to urge it. 
His characteristic sagacity enabled 
hin at once to perceive, from the man- 
ner in which natural history was then 
studied at Paris, that he might easily and 
quickly attract notice by the new and 
brillant turn which it was in his power 
to give to that science. Indeed, though 
the eloquence of Buffon had inspired a 
general taste for the study of nature, it 
S44 
* Printed at Montpellier in 1778, under 
the title: Marie Positiones circa Respirationem, 
Broussonnets - [May 1, 
had at the same time directed most of 
those who engaged in that pursuit into a 
wrong path ; and the zoologists and mine- 
ralogists were’not yet familiar with the 
commodious nomenclature and the rigor= 
ous synonymy of Linneus. It appeared 
as if that great man had written only for 
botanists; and as these had all become 
his disciples, they seemed to form a sepa- 
rate class, whose example had yet but 
little influence on the investigators of the 
other two branches of natural history, 
Broussonnet had himself imbibed the 
Linnean. doctrine in all its purity; and 
he now resolved to establish it in France, 
and to attach his reputation to the success 
of this undertaking. 
As it 1s in the distinction of the species 
that the advantage of Linnews’s ‘methed 
is particularly conspicuous, and the cabi- 
nets of Paris did not then present a 
sufficient number of new ones to Serve- 
as materials for labours of any impertance, 
he determined to visit the most valuable 
of the foreign collections: and he direct- 
ed his first steps to England ; as its univer- 
sal commerce, its immense colonial pos- 
sessions, its extensive maritime expedi- 
tions, and the taste which many of its 
most eminent personages entertained for 
natural history, had rendered that coun- 
try the richest emporium of the produc- 
tions of the two worlds. The house of - 
sir Joseph Banks was at that time a re- 
sort of the most illustrious characters of . 
Hiurepe, and an open’ school for such 
young persons as were incited to emula= 
tion by these distinguished examples. 
According to his usual practice, he made 
M. Broussonnet undergo a sort of novi-_ 
ciate for a year; and when he felt assured: 
that his visitor was worthy of his esteem, 
he bestowed it on him unreservedly, and” 
continued to give him proofs of it through 
out the rest of his life. 
Under the roof of sir Joseph Banks, 
Broussonnet began his labours on the 
subject of Fishes; and the presents which. 
he received from that generous friend of 
the sciences; consisting of a multitude of 
objects collected by sir Joseph in captain 
Cook’s first voyage, would have supplied 
the materials of continuing those labours, ° 
if it had not been for the different events 
which prevented the author from the fur- 
ther prosecution of his design. The first» 
Part of this work was published at Lon-: 
don in 1782, under the title of ‘ Ichthy- 
olugig Decas I :” it contains the Latin de~ 
scriptions, in the Linnean style, and per- 
haps with too much minuteness of detail, 
of ten rare fishes (of which number halt 
- were 
