280 M. I)e Savifjmj. 



rapid progress in the study of natural history and of elie- 

 mistry. A competition — concours — amongst the pupils of 

 I'Ecole de Sante occurring at this time in the departments, 

 Savigny, still young, presented himself, was one of the suc- 

 cessful candidates, and came to Paris. 



He was now, for the first time, separated from his mother ; 

 and in what circumstances were they next to meet % I dare 

 not express all the fearful sufferings which, to my knowledge, 

 they both experienced. Savigny at Paris, and his mother at 

 Provins, felt all the horrors of the most extreme misery ; 

 they often suffered from cold, and more than once from want 

 of food. And this without the consolation of corresponding, 

 as they so earnestly desired to do. It was too much for a 

 mother. Madame de Savigny was very soon conscious that 

 her death was approaching. And how could she die without 

 again seeing her son ? She proceeded to Paris to the humble 

 chamber of the student, the only asylum which it was in his 

 power to offer her ; and what an asylum ! Who can tell the 

 scenes of despair it witnessed ? I shall give but one hint 

 regarding this gloomy picture. One night, through the open 

 roof, the snow fell upon the bed of the dying woman. 



Savigny had not attained the age of twenty at the time of 

 his mother's death ; and even in his extreme old age, the 

 recollection of these distressing times remained the most 

 poignant in the midst of all his sufferings. It was always 

 the most painful wound of that mind which was as tender 

 as it was firm and energetic. 



It was at this time that Savigny abandoned the study of 

 medicine, in order to devote himself entirely to the natural 

 sciences. Lamarck was his instructor. Under the auspices 

 of this great master, Savigny, like Lamarck himself, became 

 first a botanist ; and when, somewhat later, Cuvier and M. 

 Dumeril procured his appointment as Professor of the Cen- 

 tral School of the Seine Jnferieure, it was Vegetable Science 

 which was assigned to him. 



When setting out for Rouen, it was proposed to him 

 to accompany General Bonaparte to the East. The only 

 situation still vacant was that of a zoologist. " Accept it," 

 said Cuvier (we quote his own words) ; " you will be a zoolo- 



