146 EMINENT NATURALISTS. 



there can be no doubt that Buffon prolonged his life, 

 notwithstanding the pangs from a painful disease from 

 which he suffered. 



The longevity of Buffon's family was somewhat 

 remarkable, his father lived to the age of ninety-three, 

 and his grandfather was eighty-seven when he died. 

 Concerning the elevation of Buffon to the aristocracy of 

 France, we may be permitted to refer to an incident 

 which significantly marks the brutality and ignorance 

 of the French people under the Reign of Terror. The 

 only son left by Buifon was murdered only fifteen days 

 before the fall of Robespierre. It might have been 

 thought that the sacrifice of the son would have satis- 

 fied the bloodthirsty cravings of the Parisian mob ; but 

 no, the body and memory of the father whom the nation 

 had honoured at his death were not secure. During the 

 great storm which darkened the political horizon of 

 Europe, the remains of the illustrious zoologist were 

 torn from the grave, the lead in which his coffin was 

 encased was plundered, and the monument which the son 

 had erected to his memory was razed to the ground. 



Before proceeding to give an account of the works of 

 Buffon, we shall mention a few particulars relating to 

 his person and character. His figure was noble and 

 manly, and his countenance, even in advanced age and 

 during the periods when he suffered great physical pain, 

 was calm and placid, and exhibited traces of singular 

 intelligence. Vanity, however, which seemed to have 

 been his predominant passion, extended even to his 

 person and to all his exterior ornaments. He was par- 

 ticularly fond of having his hair neatly dressed, and for 



