To the very facility of its composition, the “Physiology of the Taste,” owes its success; one would form a very erroneous opinion of it, were he to estimate it at all as we do Montaigue’s writings on the Gueule.  Savarin was naturally a thoughtful man, the simplest meal satisfied him, all he required was that it should be prepared artistically; and he maintained that the art of cookery consisted in exciting the taste.  He used to say, “to excite a stomach of Papier Mache, and enliven vital powers almost ready to depart, a cook needs more talent than he who has solved the INFINTESIMAL calculus.”

The world was much surprised by finding in a book by Brillat Savarin, a man it had always looked upon as simply a very pleasant person, such a vast collection of general information; after his laborious profession he had always seemed to expend the rest of his time with the muses and graces, and none could divine where he obtained so much information, as almost to recall the story of some gray-haired sage of Greece.  He had however already composed more than one work unrecognised, if we except the two opuscula “Critical and Historical Essay on Duel, with Relation to our Legislation and Morals,” and a work on judicial practice.  They were successful, but he was just then attacked by a violent cold, contracted by being present at the annual ceremony, [Footnote:  Not only Brillat Savarin, but Robert De St. Vincent, and Attorney General Marchangy, contracted their death in consequence of the same ceremonial.] the 21st of January at the Church of St. Dennis.  In spite of every care and attention, on the 2d of February, 1826, he died.  For many years gifted with robust health and athletic constitution, made the more remarkable by his tall stature, Brillat Savarin had a presentiment of the approach of death; this feeling, however, did not influence the tenor of his life, for his habitual gaity was maintained unimpaired.  When the fatal point was reached, he died tanquam convivia satur, not without regret, certainly, for he left many kind friends to whom his memory could not but be dear.

Aphorisms of the professor.

To serve as prolegomena to his work and eternal basis to the
science.

I. The universe would be nothing were it not for life and all that lives must be fed.

II.  Animals fill themselves; man eats.  The man of mind alone knows how to eat.

III.  The destiny of nations depends on the manner in which they are fed.

IV.  Tell me what kind of food you eat, and I will tell you what kind of man you are.

V. The Creator, when he obliges man to eat, invites him to do so by appetite, and rewards him by pleasure.

VI.  Gourmandise is an act of our judgment, in obedience to which, we grant a preference to things which are agreeable, over those which nave not that quality.