FRANCIS DE LA, for a long time practised surgery at Paris with such distinguished eclat, that he obtained for himself the appointment of first sur- geon to Louis XV. He improved this favourable situa- tion with his majesty, and procured to his profession those honours which had the effect to quicken its pro- gress, and those establishments which contributed to ex- tend its benefits. The Royal College of Surgery at Paris was founded by his means in 1731, was enlight- ened by his knowledge, and encouraged by his munifi- cence. At his death, which happened at Versailles the 24th of April 1747, he bequeathed to the society of surgeons in Paris two thirds of his effects, his estate of Marigny, which was sold to the king for 200,000 livres, and his library. This useful citizen also left to the so- ciety of surgeons at Montpellier two houses, situated in Peyronius, that town, with 100,000 livres, for the purpose of erecting there a chirurgical amphitheatre. He appointed the same society universal legatee for the third of his effects; and all these legacies contain clauses whose sole object is to promote the public good, the perfection and improvement of surgery; for which he always solicited the protection of the court. At the time of the famous dispute between the physicians and surgeons, he entreated the Chancellor d'Aguessan to build up a brazen wall between the two bodies. "I will do so," replied the minister, but on what side of the wall shall we place the sick?" Peyronius afterwards behaved with more moderation.—He was a philosopher without any ostentation; but his philosophy was tempered by a long acquaintance with the world and with the court. The acuteness and delicacy of his understanding, joined to his natural vivacity, rendered his conversation agreeable; and all these advantages were crowned with a quality still more valuable, an uncommon degree of sympathy for those in distress. He was no sooner known to be at his estate in the country, than his house was filled with sick people, who came to him from the distance of 7 or 8 leagues round about. He had once a plan of establishing, on this spot, an hospital, to which he intended to retire, that he might devote the remainder of his life to the service of the poor.