Page:Journey Round my Room by Xiavier de Maistre trans. Henry Attwell.djvu/12

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Preface.

ting himself to art and literature. He applied himself so successfully to the study of chemistry that he was able to communicate several valuable "Mémoires" to the Academy of Turin, of which he was a member.

Xavier de Maistre died (1852) at an advanced age in his adopted country, where he had married, and which he only quitted once, for a brief season.

Some apology for publishing this translation is perhaps necessary.

Although in France the "Voyage" retains the high esteem in which it has been held for half a century, it is hardly known in England, except by those who are familiar with the French language and literature.