, Historical Eloge of M, Vaiiquelin, 2^1. 



bim t^Jniqg ton txi jcdi moi^ 



and others im^ining it to be a criminal attempt, M. Vauquelin 

 was called, and after examining the paper, and suddenly recol- 

 lecting the date of the day on which it was received, exclaimed 

 " My God, it is merely an April fool."" Few but himself could 

 have taken liberty thus to sport with a powerj^whiclr even a^jts 

 fpmmencement seemed to be omnipotep^.^^y'^o tT^l^'enftmt)^ Ikib 

 i>^ Jf we compare him with the extraordinary genius whose life 

 I- have related at the commencement of this sitting, it cannot .|^ 

 said that M. Vauquelin, notwithstanding his innumerable wj- 

 searches, and the interesting and singular discoveries with which 

 he has enriched science, is to be considered equal to Sir H. 

 Davy. At the same time science owes him scarely a less en- 

 during gratitude. The former has soared like an eagle over 

 the vast extent of physics and chemistry, and on each he has 

 thrown from on high a dazzling light, shewing to view their 

 doctrines disposed in an order altogether new. Vauquelin, more 

 modest, has illustrated their most secret details, and penetrated 

 into their more obscure recesses. If the name of the one is writ- 

 ten at the head of every chapter, that of the other will bex^r 

 peated in every paragraph. The genius of the first has created 

 brilliant theories, the sagacity of the second has established a 

 multitude of particular facts ; but it is known that the micros- 

 cope is not less fruitful in wonders than the telescope ; and the 

 history of science, especially as exhibited in Sir Humphry Davy, 

 will teach us that theories pass rapidly away, but that facts 

 are eternal. mirl b&Jiviuodv/ 



bns m^ii^\i^^^ numerical relations of animals. ^^ 



1. mammalia. * 



Year. No. of Specle«liw 



Linnwus enumerates *, . . . 1767 221 tt 



Humboldt t, 500 ^ - 



DesmarestJ, 1822 850 



Temminck ||, 1827 860 



• Sy sterna Naturae, edit. 12. Holmiae, 1767 ;— the last edition si^Dper- 

 "iiitended by Linnaeus. i'" • • '' 



f Ann. de Chim. et de t*hy8, xvl. 



X Mammalogie ; Paris, 1020 et 1822. 4to. 



I| Monographies de Mammalogie, vol. ii. ; Paris, 1827. 



I-:, ':} M 



