;18S MEMOIR OF DUCROTAY DE BLAINVILLE. 



which lie was supporting, lie would presently take in hand the opposite thesis. 

 But what, it would be impatiently asked, what then is decidedly your opinion ] 

 Is it yes 1 No, it is not yes. Is it no ? I have just proved to you that it can 

 not be no. It must needs, however, be one or the other; decide. Oh ho! he 

 would exclaim, you forget, then, that J am a Norinan. And in him everything, 

 physical as well as moral, recalled that origin. He was of medium stature, but 

 of a remarkable vigor. His eye, lively, penetrative, observant, revealed a supe- 

 rior nature. The simplicity of his exterior denoted his confidence in a personal 

 value which chose to borrow nothing from honorary distinctions, distinctions for 

 which he manifested a plenary indifference. No ostentation, no petty vanity 

 sunk this man to a lower level. He seemed to have settled in his own mind 

 that by study alone can life be invested with dignity or value.* 



Under all its envelopes, and however seemingly impenetrable, the heart, when 

 once touched, was but the more unreserved in its effusions. Become possessor 

 of the small manorial domain of his ancestors, M. de Blainville returned yearly 

 to visit its shores and hills, to breathe the invigorating air of the sea, and to re- 

 call the tender images which had soothed his earlier years. During the time 

 that he thus occupied his little manor, the man of science disappeared, and the 

 gentleman showed himself no cynic. An unaffected amiability accompanied 

 him into society, and in that of ladies especially he displayed a playfulness and 

 good taste which banished into the distant and lowering horizon of science every 

 misanthropic impulse. His delight in the revival of associations found other 

 aliment in the reunion of the representatives of all the epochs of his life. Fre- 

 quently assembled around him on such occasions, this circle of friends was open 

 to all philosophies, to the most opposite opinions, to all social positions, to eveiy 

 age. For the youngest among them the severe critic and profound thinker ever 

 entertained a warm and watchful regard, which, it is but just to say, was re- 

 quited, not only by unlimited devotion, but, since his death, by a pious care for 

 the memory of the distinguished savant.t 



At the beginning of the year 1850, M. de Blainville thought it his duty, not- 

 withstanding the alteration of his health, to open his course at the Faculty of 

 sciences. In his first lectures, he reappeared with a talent which had lost 

 nothing of its force or brilliancy. Impelled, however, by sad presentiments, he 

 quitted, on the 1st of May, his modest habitation at the Museum, promising a 

 speedy return. He was but going, he said, to breathe his native air, and see 

 the sun of spring once more shine on the fair coasts of Normandy. | 



His purpose was not fulfilled. Scarcely had he taken his place in the vehicle 

 which was to convey him, when, by a sudden stroke, this noble existence was 

 terminated, On the public authority it devolved to extend that protection to 

 his last moments which it owes to the humblest citizen, and to restore to his 

 friends and colleagues the mortal remains of one so worthy of respect, one by 

 whom the nothingness of life had never been forgotten. 



* I scarcely need say that M. de Blainville belonged to most of tbe learned societies of 

 the Avorld, and of coui'se to the Royal Society of Loudon. He was a member of the Legion 

 cf Honor, and if he remained a simple chevalier it was only because he preferred it. 



t All the manuscripts of the great naturalist were scrupulously collected by his young 

 friend M. Nicard, who prepared, also, a notice breathing a spirit of enthusiastic reueratiou. 



+ This love of liis native place was one of the j)romiuent features of his character, as 

 was also the love of his family. The sou and daughter of his elder brother were long the 

 only ties of kiudredship which remained to him. 



