48 LAMARCK, HIS LIFE AND WORK 
in France than those I have already composed or un- 
dertaken—a work, in short, which the National Con- 
vention should without doubt order, and of which no 
part could be written so advantageously as in Paris, 
where are to be found abundant means for carrying 
it to completion. 
“This is a Systeme de la Nature, a work analogous 
to the Systema nature of Linneus, but written in 
French, and presenting the picture complete, con- 
cise, and methodical, of all the natural productions 
observed up to this day. This important work (of 
Linneus), which the young Frenchmen who intend 
to devote themselves to the study of natural history 
always require, is the object of speculations by foreign 
authors, and has already passed through thirteen dif- 
ferent editions. Moreover, their works, which, to our 
shame, we have to use, because we have none written 
expressly for us, are filled (especially the last edition 
edited by Gmelin) with gross mistakes, omissions of 
double and triple occurrence, and errors in synonymy, 
and present many generic characters which are inex- 
act or imperceptible and many series badly divided, 
or genera too numerous in species, and difficulties in- 
surmountable to students. 
“Tf the Committee of Public Instruction had the 
time to devote any attention to the importance of my 
project, to the utility of publishing such a work, and 
perhaps to the duty prescribed by the national honor, 
I would say to it that, after having for a long time 
reflected and meditated and determined upon the 
most feasible plan, finally after having seen amassed 
and prepared the most essential materials, I offer to 
put this beautiful project into execution. I have 
not lost sight of the difficulties of this great en- 
terprise. Iam, I believe, as well aware of them, and 
better, than any one else; but I feel that I can over- 
come them without descending to a simple and dis- 
honorable compilation of what foreigners have writ- 
