Biographical Memoi?' of M. Dauhenton. S 



system ; to transfer to this picture aH the freshness and bril- 

 liancy of the original ;-^such was the most difficult task of the 

 writer who might undertake to restore to this beautiful science 

 all the lustre which it had lost ; such was that which the ardent 

 imagination of Buffon, his lofty genius, and his intense feeUng 

 of the beauties of nature, could not fail to make him attempt. 

 Had not truth formed the basis of his performance — had he la^ 

 vished the brilliant colours of his pallet upon incorrect or ua- 

 faithful designs — had he only combined imaginary facts, he 

 might indeed have become an elegant writer, an ingenious poet ; 

 but he would not have been a naturalist — he could not have 

 aspired to the rank of which he was ambitious, that of being a 

 reformer of the science. It was therefore necessary to review, 

 to collect, to observe every thing ; to compare the forms and 

 dimensions of beings ; to carry the scalpel into their interior, 

 and lay open the most hidden parts of their organization. 

 Buffon was sensible that his impatient spirit would not permit 

 him to undergo those painful labours ; that the \^ry weakness 

 of his sight would mar the hope of engaging in them with" suc- 

 cess. He sought a man who might join to the accuracy of mind 

 and delicacy of tact necessary for such researches, sufficient mo- 

 desty and devotedness, to be contented with a secondary part in 

 appearance, to be in some measure but his eye and hand ; and 

 this man he found in Daubenton, the companion of the sports of 

 his childhood. But he found in him more than he had sought, 

 more even than he thought he required ; and, perhaps, it was 

 not in those things in which he asked his assistance that Dau- 

 benton was most useful to him. j If ji -i^m ^h\ 



In fact, it may be said that, never was association better 

 formed. There existed in the two friends, in respect both to 

 their physical and their mental constitution, that perfect contrast 

 which one of our most amiable writers asserts to be necessary 

 for rendering a connection dui-able, and each of them seemed to 

 have received precisely the qualities adapted to temper those of 

 the other by opposition. j;^ jil? ; V 



Buftbn, robust in his person, imposing in his appearance, %f 

 an imperious disposition, and desirous in all things of prompt 

 enjoyment, seemed disposed ratlier to guess the truth than to 

 observe • it* His imagination continually interposed itself >h04 



