30 LAMARCK, HIS LIKE AND WORK 
the decree of the roth of June; in ‘spite of ats im- 
portance to science and higher learning in France, 
was passed without discussion. 
In his Lamarck De Mortillet states explicitly 
that Lamarck, in his address of 1790, changed the 
name of the Jardin du Roi to Jardin des Plantes.* 
As the article states, ‘‘ Entirely devoted to his studies, 
Lamarck entered into no intrigue under the falling 
monarchy, so he always remained in a position strait- 
ened and inferior to his merits.” It was owing to 
this and his retired mode of life that the single- 
minded student of nature was not disturbed in his 
studies and meditations by the Revolution. And 
when the name of the Jardin du Roi threatened to be 
fatal to this establishment, it was he who presented 
a memoir to transform it, under the name of Jardin 
des Plantes, into an institution of higher instruction, 
with six professors. In 1793, Lakanal adopted La- 
marck’s plan, and, enlarging upon it, created twelve 
chairs for the teaching of the natural sciences. 
Bourguin thus puts the matter: 
“In June, 1793, Lakanal, having learned that ‘the 
Vandals’ (that is his expression) had demanded of the 
tribune of the Convention the suppression of the Royal 
Garden,as being an annex of the king’s palace, recurred 
to the memoirs of Lamarck presented in 1790 and gave 
his plan of organization. He inspired himself with La- 
marck’s ideas, but enlarged upon them. Instead of 
six positions of professors-administrative, which La- 
* This is seen to be the case by the title of the pamphlet : A/émotre 
sur les Cabinets d’ Histoire Naturelle, et particulicrement sur celut 
du Jardin des Plantes. 
