MEMOIR OF DAUBENTOI*. 213 



and tremulous voice become reanimated, and acquire 

 strength and energy, when he wished to impress on 

 their minds some of those great principles which are 

 the result of the meditations of genius, or when he was 

 merely explaining to them some useful truths. 



He had not more pleasure in speaking to them than 

 in listening to what they said. He lent a ready ear to 

 all their questions, which afforded him the greatest 

 pleasure. He forgot his years and weakness whenever 

 he thought he could be useful to the youth around him, 

 and when he had any duty to perform. 



One of his colleagues having offered, when he was 

 appointed a senator, to assist him in teaching : " My 

 friend," he replied, " no one could fill my place better 

 than you : when age shall force me to give up my la- 

 bours, be assured tha I will devolve them on you." He 

 was then eighty-three years of age. 



Nothing can afford a better proof of his zeal for 

 study, than the pains he took to keep pace with the 

 progress of science, and to avoid imitating those pro- 

 fessors, who, when once settled in a place, merely repeat 

 the same thing every year. At eighty years of age, he 

 has been heard explaining the discoveries of one of his 

 old pupils, M. Haiiy; forcing himself to understand 

 them, that he might give an account of them to the 

 youth whom he taught. This example is so rare among 

 philosophers, that it may perhaps be considered one of 

 the most beautiful traits in Daubenton's character. 



During the ephemeral existence of the Normal School 



