Cuvier's Biographical Memoir of M. de Lamarck. 21 



It was thus that M. de Lamarck, by resuming occupations 

 analogous to those which first procured him reputation, at last 

 raised for himself a monument which will endure as long as the 

 objects on which it rests. Fortunate had it been for him if he 

 had been able to render it more perfect. But we have already 

 seen that he was late in devoting himself to zoology ; and from 

 the first, the weakness of his eyes obliged him to have recourse 

 for the investigation of insects to our celebrated associate M. de 

 Latreille, whom Europe recognises as his master in this immense 

 department of Natural History. The clouds thickened upon 

 him by degrees, and allowed but an imperfect glimpse of all 

 those delicate organizations, the observation of which constituted 

 his only enjoyment. No art could stop the inroads of this cala- 

 mity, nor administer a remedy ; that light, which had been so 

 much the subject of his study, at last entirely failed him, and 

 he passed many of his last years in absolute blindness. This 

 misfortune was the more distressing, because it overtook him in 

 such circumstances that he could obtain none of those means of 

 distraction or alleviation which might have otherwise been pro- 

 cured. He had been married four times, and was the father of 

 seven children. The whole of his little patrimony, and even 

 the fruits of his early economy, were lost in one of those hazard- 

 ous investments, which are so often held out as baits to credu- 

 lity by shameless speculators. 



His retired life, the consequence of his youthful habits, and 

 attachments to systems so little in accordance with the ideas 

 which prevailed in science, were not calculated to recommend 

 him to those who had the power of dispensing favours. When 

 numberless infirmities, brought on by old age, had increased his 

 wants, nearly his whole means of support consisted of a small 

 income derived from his chair. The friends of science, attracted 

 by the high reputation which his botanical and zoological works 

 had obtained for him, witnessed this with surprise. It appeared 

 to them that a government which protects the sciences, ought 

 to have been more careful to become better acquainted with the 

 situation of a celebrated individual ; but their esteem for him 

 was doubled, when they saw the courage with which the illus- 

 trious old man bore up against the assaults both of fortune and 



