158 EMINENT NATURALISTS. 



Natural History, consisting of the " History of 

 Minerals." These supplemental volumes, of which 

 the fifth, appeared in 1778, contain many curious 

 and valuable experiments, as well as much theory, too 

 much of it, however, too lax for the rigour of modern 

 science. The concluding volume may he considered 

 as a kind of philosophical romance. It comprehends 

 what the author fancifully denominates the " Epochs 

 of Nature," or those great changes in the state of the 

 earth which he supposes to have successively resulted 

 from his hypothesis of its original formation out of 

 the sun. Of these epochs he enumerates seven, of 

 which six are supposed to have been previous to the 

 creation of man. In the description of these epochs, 

 as to both their causes and effects, the author has 

 indulged the sport of fancy, and formed a sort of fairy 

 tale, which he rendered both instructive and amusing. 



After he had completed his " History of Minerals," 

 Buff on had formed a design of composing a " History 

 of Vegetables," but this project was defeated by his 

 death, which occurred, as already stated, on the 16th 

 of April, 1778. His last words were spoken to his 

 son, and were, " Never quit the path of honour and 

 of virtue : it is the only way to be happy." 



The works of Buffon, as a naturalist of the highest 

 order have now been before the public for nearly a 

 century. They have long ago passed the critical 

 ordeal, and it is pretty generally acknowledged that 

 while they contain much to praise, they are by no 

 means undeserving of reproach. The sentiments 

 which they promulgate, that have any relation to 



