114 A CONGENIAL RETREAT. 



1775, after a visit to the western coast of Africa, 

 he returned to Cayenne ; and during the two years 

 he remained there, occupied himself almost wholly 

 with researches into the natural history of that 

 region. The journal he kept was not published, 

 but is frequently referred to in the works of Buffon. 

 At length Sonnini's health became impaired. He 

 suffered from an obstinate fever, which preyed 

 upon his spirits and strength, and compelled him 

 to repair to his native country. He found a con- 

 genial retreat at Montbard, where his great friend 

 Buffon gladly welcomed him, and for a short time 

 Sonnini was content to remain tranquil. He tells 

 us, "I spent nearly six months there ; and that 

 time, which fled too rapidly, is certainly the period 

 of my life that has left behind it the most grateful 

 recollection. It is to my stay in that abode of the 

 sciences and of taste that I am indebted for the 

 little I am worth. It was winter, and the severity 

 of the season kept away troublesome visitors. Day 

 succeeded day in delightful succession, while I was 

 aiding the great man in his labours and enjoying 

 his society a society highly agreeable, and which 

 was never disturbed by the smallest inequality of 

 temper, and which I have never met with anywhere 

 else. Buffon was not one of those men of letters 

 whom Erasmus whimsically compared to the tapes- 

 try of Flanders, with great figures, which, to pro- 



