10 Bi(^,aphical'Ml^mnrqfM: Dauhentan. 



which Uie 'etoqitence of the painter of nature was opposed, by 

 obscure metaphysical • discussions, and Dauben ton, in whom 

 P.eaumur saw' th^ sole eft^tive support of what he called the 

 delu^ibns of his rival, Was not spared. The Academy was some- 

 times the scene of more direct' disputes, of which we have no 

 very distinct record, but which were so violent j that Buffon 

 found himself obliged td employ his interest with the then fa- 

 vourite * to support his friend, and procure for him those high- 

 er hoDpurs which his labours had merited. 

 . A man of feerit is never without some enemies; and those 

 who would injure, never want some protectors. The merit, on 

 this occasion, was so nrfu6h the more praiseworthy in not sink- 

 ing, that it was not of a nature to strike the multitude. A mo- 

 dest and scrupulous observer can neither captivate the vulgar, 

 npr even men of science unacquainted with natural history ; for 

 the learned always judge like the vulgar of such works as are 

 not of their kind ; and the number of naturalists was at that 

 time very small. Had Daubenton's investigations appeared by 

 themselves, they would have remained in the circle of anato- 

 mists and naturalists, who would have appreciated their true 

 value ; and their suffrage determining that of the multitude, the 

 |a,tter would have respected the author on trust, like those un- 

 known gods who are so much the more revered, the more im- 

 penetrable their sanctuary is. But, marching in company with 

 the work of his brilliant rival, Daubenton's was admitted to the 

 toilet of the fair and the cabinet of the literary ; the comparison 

 pf his measured style and cautious progress, with the lively 

 poesy, and the Venturous sallies of BufFon, could not be to his 

 advantage"; and the minute details of dimensions and descrip- 

 tions into which he entered, could not, with such judges, afford 

 any compensation for the' enriui with which they were necessa- 

 rily accompanied. 



Thus Was Daubenton celebrated in Paris, when all the natu- 

 ralists of Etiropf^' received, with a gratitude mingled with ad- 

 miration, the results of his immense labours ; when thev 

 bestowed >jup9jjj, \\q y^fffk which contained them, and solely 



Abbe D^lignac : he was, closely connected with Reaumur. We have also of 



^)Sj Memoires pour r llistpire des Araignecs Aquutiques^ <^c. 



5dt i-- ' '• ' * "MaKittnie de Pompadour, 3 -a 



