Biographical Memoir ofM. Daubenton. 17 



tivity. They did not satisfy the desire of a regular occupation, 

 which formed a part of Daubenton's character. 



It had long been a subject of complaint, that there were no 

 public lectures on natural history in France. He obtained, in 

 1773, an order that one of the chairs of practical medicine in 

 the college of France, should be changed into a natural history- 

 chair, and in 1775 he undertook to fill it. The Intendant of 

 Paris, Berthier, engaged him, in 1783, to give lectures on rural 

 economy, at the Veterinary School of Alfort, at the same time 

 that Vicq d'Azyr delivered lectures on comparative anatomy, 

 and M. de Fourcroy on chemistry. 



He also wished to give lectures in the Cabinet of Paris, where 

 the objects of natural history would have spoken with still more 

 perspicuity than the professor, but not being able to obtain per- 

 mission under the old regime, he joined along with others em- 

 ployed in the Garden of Plants, in soliciting the Convention 

 to remodel that establishment into a regular school of natural 

 history. 



Daubenton was named Professor of Mineralogy to it, and he 

 fulfilled the duties of this office until his death, with the same 

 correctness which he employed in all his functions. h 



It was truly an affecting thing to see this old man surrounded 

 by his pupils, who received with a religious attention his words, 

 which their veneration seemed to convert into so many oracles ; 

 to hear his feeble and tremulous voice become again animated, 

 and resume strength and energy, when he had to inculcate some 

 of those great principles which are the result of the meditations 

 of genius, or only to unfold some useful truths resulting from 

 them. 



He had no less pleasure in speaking to his pupils than in hear- 

 ing them speak : it was seen by his amiable cheerfulness, and 

 the ease with which he answered all their questions, that the oc- 

 cupation was a true pleasure to him. He forgot his years and 

 his weakness, when he had an opportunity of being useful to his 

 pupils, and of fulfilling his duties. 



One of his colleagues having offered, when he was named to 

 the office of senator, to relieve him in his teaching ; " My 

 Friend,'" he replied,' " I cannot have a better substitute than 

 APKIL JUKE 1828. B 



