BUFFON. 149 



1749, and the other volumes came out year by year 

 until his death. 



Buffon lived carefully, and kept up the curious 

 state of the French gentlemen of his day in his 

 house. After he was dressed, he dictated letters 

 and regulated his domestic affairs, and at six o'clock 

 he retired to his studies in a building called the 

 tower of St. Louis. This was in the garden, and 

 far away from the house, and the only furniture in 

 it was a wooden writing-table, with its cupboards 

 and drawers, and an armchair. Neither pictures nor 

 books relieved the naked appearance of the apart- 

 ment, or distracted the thoughts of the learned 

 professor. The entrance was by green folding 

 doors, the walls were painted green, and the in- 

 terior had the appearance of a chapel in conse- 

 quence of the elevation of the roof. Within this 

 garden was another building, where Buffon resided 

 during the greater part of the year, as it was 

 warmer than the other place, and here he composed 

 most of his works. It was a small square building, 

 situated on the side of a terrace, and was orna- 

 mented with drawings of birds and beasts. At 

 nine o'clock Buffon usually took an hour's rest and 

 his breakfast, which consisted of a piece of bread 

 and two glasses of wine. When he had written for 

 two hours after breakfast, he returned to the house. 

 At dinner he spent a considerable time in conversa- 

 tion, and relaxed his mind from work entirely, en- 

 joying the wit and gaiety of his friends. He usually 

 slept for an hour after dinner in his room and took 



