164 MEMOIR OF GEOFFROY SAINT HILAIRE. 



appropriate expression.'"' In June, 1793, by a decree of the conven- 

 tion, the garden took the name of museum, and the instruction given 

 there was extended to ail branches of natural history, the number of 

 chairs being at the same time raised from three to twelve. Two of the 

 new ones were destined to zoology, one of tliem being given to Lamarck, 

 while Pallas, the celebrated naturalist of the north, was designated 

 by some for the other. Daubenton proposed Geoffrey. He was very 

 young, it is true, but had already given evidence of a passion for 

 labor. The paramount object with Daubenton, however, was to have 

 an assurance that the influence of Buffon would be maintained, and 

 the impulse he had given be carried out. "I take upon myself," he 

 said, on seeing that Geoffrey hesitated, "the responsibility of yoyr 

 inexperience, and I have in your case some title to the authority of 

 a father. Enter confidently upon the oflQce of instruction in zoology, 

 and may it one day be said that you have made of it a French science." 



Thus we see Geoffrey a professor at the age of barely twenty-one. 

 He has ingenuously described the embarrassment which he at first 

 experienced: " Obliged to create everything, I acquired," he said, 

 "the elements of natural history, in arranging and classifying the collec- 

 tions confided to my care." He opened, May 6, 1794, the first course 

 of zoology which had existed in France. A fervid activity redoubled 

 his success. The collections rapidly increased; but the menagerie 

 imagined by Saint Pierre not being soon enough realized he impro- 

 vised one. Word was brought him one morning that a leopard, a 

 white bear, several mandrills, a panther, &c., were waiting his ac- 

 ceptance at the gate. The police had just prohibited the public ex- 

 hibition of these animals. But the museum had as yet neither funds 

 nor receptacle for a menagerie. What matter? Geoffrey accepts all, 

 and establishes as he best could his coveted but terrible guests under 

 his windows. He hastens to communicate his good fortune to his 

 colleagues, and they, a little surprised and, it may be, alarmed, quickly 

 provided the means of securely confining these formidable acquisi- 

 sitions. 



About the time we speak of, the venerable M. Tessier, who had 

 sought refuge in Normandy from the violence of the revolution, an- 

 nounced to his friends from the place of his retreat that he had just 

 made the best of his discoveries, and called upon them to open the 

 career of the sciences to anotlier Delambre. His letter was accompa- 

 nied b}^ some memoirs drawn up by his protege. These were referred 

 to Geoffrey, who, struck with enthusiasm at their perusal, and yield- 

 ing to a generous inspiration, wrote immediately to their author : 

 "Come and fulfil among us the part of a Linneeus — of another law- 

 giver of natural history." It would be impossible to characterize Cu- 

 vier more happily. 



On the arrival of the netv Linnceus, Geoffrey devoted himself with- 

 out reserve to his interests. To admire, to praise, and to enjoy the 

 success of others, was one of the felicities of his life. Having a 

 lodge at the museum, he shared it with Cuvier, and threw open to 

 him all the collections. A mutual devotion to study naturally united 

 their labors, among the first results of which, two may be here no- 



