98 MEMOIRS OF 



Buffbn began to think, that it would be more advantageous 

 for himself to publish his " Histoire Naturelle," in thirteen 

 volumes duodecimo, taking away not only the anatomical 

 parts but the external descriptions ; and he also determined 

 to appear alone before the public when treating of birds and 

 minerals. To act thus was not only to wound Daubenton's 

 feelings, but to injure him in a pecuniary sense. He might, 

 with reason, have pleaded that it was an enterprize common 

 to both ; but had he asserted his right, he must have quar- 

 relled with the director of the Jardin ; he must have quitted 

 the scenes he had, as it were, created, and which were in- 

 separable from his existence. He therefore passed over the 

 loss and the affront, and continued his labours, in a measure 

 consoled by the regret expressed by all naturalists, when they 

 saw the History of Birds appear without his exact descrip- 

 tion. It is worthy of mention, that to such a degree did he 

 carry his spirit of forgiveness, that he afterwards contributed 

 some parts to the " Histoire Naturelle," although his name 

 was never again attached to the work. His intimacy with 

 his friend was also renewed, and continued unbroken till 

 the death of Buffon. 



The efforts of Daubenton were far from being confined 

 to the above-mentioned pursuits, and one of the other ob- 

 jects of his endeavours was an attempt to improve the wool 

 of France, by which means he obtained a popularity which 

 was very useful to him before the Assembly of the Sans 

 Culottes. A certificate of civism was necessary for his per- 

 sonal safety at that stormy period, to obtain which, his titles 

 of Professor and Academician were of little avail ; he was at 

 length presented under the title of Shepherd, and in this 

 character he protected the savant. The curious document 

 of this transaction is still in existence. 



In 1773, M. Daubenton obtained permission for one of 

 the professorships of the College de France to be changed 

 into a chair of Natural History, and also that lectures should 

 be given at the Museum. It was an affecting sight to be- 

 hold this old man encircled by his disciples, who received his 

 words with a religious attention, a veneration which con- 

 verted them into so many oracles ; to hear his weak and 

 trembling voice gradually assume its wonted force and 

 energy, when he tried to inculcate some of those great prin- 



