POSITIONING: THESHISTLORY: OF (SCIEN CE. 67 
mandy a pearl,” and invited him to do what he could 
to induce Cuvier to come to Paris. ‘I made,” said 
Geoffroy, “the proposition to my cozfreres, but I was 
supported, and only feebly, by M. de Lamarck, who 
slightly knew M. Cuvieras the author of a memoir on 
entomology.” 
The eulogy pronounced by Geoffroy St. Hilaire 
over the remains of his old friend and colleague was 
generous, sympathetic, and heartfelt. 
“Ves [he said, in his eloquent way], for us who 
knew M. de Lamarck, whom his counsels have guided, 
whom we have found always indefatigable, devoted, 
occupied so willingly with the most difficult labors, we 
shall not fear to say that sucha loss leaves in our ranks 
animmense void. From the blessings of sucha life, so 
rich in instructive lessons, so remarkable for the most 
generous self-abnegation, it is difficult to choose. 
“A man of vigorous, profound ideas, and very often 
admirably generalized, Lamarck conceived them with 
a view to the public good. If he met, as often hap- 
pened, with great opposition, he spoke of it as a con- 
dition imposed on every one who begins a reform. 
Moreover, the great age, the infirmities, but especially 
the grievous blindness of M. de Lamarck had re- 
served for him another lot. This great and strong 
mind could enjoy some consolation in knowing the 
judgment of posterity, which for him began in his 
own lifetime. When his last tedious days, useless to 
science, had arrived, when he had ceased to be sub- 
jected to rivalry, envy and passion became extin- 
guished and justice alone remained. De Lamarck 
then heard impartial voices, the anticipated echo of 
posterity, which would judge him as history will 
judge him. Yes, the scientific world has pronounced 
‘its judgment in giving him the name of ‘the French 
Linné,’ thus linking together the two men who have 
