LAMARCK 



an exponent of variation. The sixth and last volume 

 did not appear until 1822. During this period, he 

 had evidently turned his mind with increasing ear- 

 nestness to the problem of the origin and develop- 

 ment of species, since, in 1809 he published his mas- 

 terpiece, the Philosophie Zoologique. Lamarck's last 

 years were pathetic as he became totally blind and 

 suffered from extreme poverty and neglect. 



At his death, appreciative eulogies were pronounced 

 by De Blainville and by Geoffroy St. Hilaire who 

 gave him the position of leading naturalist of France 

 and who lamented the death and neglect of one of the 

 greatest geniuses of the age. The official eulogy be- 

 fore the Academy was pronounced by Cuvier, then 

 at the height of his powers and reputation. The eulo- 

 gy was a disgrace, showing a spirit of envy and malice, 

 ridiculing all Lamarck's theories and especially his 

 evolutionary ideas, and aroused such a feeling of re- 

 sentment that, as De Blainville tells us, it was not 

 printed until after Cuvier's death and even then with 

 portions omitted as not suitable for publication. It 

 was undoubtedly the opposition and ridicule of the 

 great Cuvier which started the long neglect and mis- 

 understanding of Lamarck's ideas. His opinions were 

 unknown in Germany and were first appreciated by 

 Haeckel in 1882. In England Lyell had been drawn 

 to his ideas and was deeply influenced by them while 

 preparing his Principles of Geology. Huxley also has 

 several half-hearted appreciations of his work. As all 



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