192 MEMOIR OF DAUBENTOff. 



by which they are restrained and kept in a uniform 

 system ; to transfuse into this picture all the freshness 

 and splendour of the original : such was the most diffi- 

 cult task that author had to undertake who would re- 

 store this beautiful science to the lustre it had lost; 

 such was that in which the ardent imagination of Buifon, 

 his elevated genius, and deep feeling for the beauties of 

 nature, ought to have enabled him to undertake with 

 perfect success. 



But if truth had not been the foundation of his un- 

 dertaking ; if he had lavished the brilliant colours of 

 his palette on incorrect or unfaithful drawings, and had 

 combined only imaginary facts, he might indeed have 

 appeared as an elegant writer or ingenious poet, but he 

 would not have been a naturalist, and he could not have 

 aspired to the object at which his ambition aimed, that 

 of being a reformer in science. 



It was necessary, therefore, that every thing should 

 be reviewed, collected, and observed ; it was necessary 

 to compare the forms and dimensions of beings ; to carry 

 the scalpel into their interior, and disclose the most 

 secret parts of their organization. Buffon felt that his 

 impatient mind would not allow him to engage in such 

 toilsome labours ; and that, moreover, the weakness of 

 his eye-sight would deprive him of the hope of engaging 

 in them with success. He sought for an individual, who, 

 joined to the correctness of judgment and delicacy of tact, 

 necessary for such researches, had enough of modesty 

 and devotion to the subject, to be satisfied with a part 



