318 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



upon the great as well as the humble. The existence of 

 this friendship is apparent in the earlier works of these 

 two illustrious men, for many of their researches which 

 they had carried on conjointly, were alternately drawn 

 up by only one or the other, although they were always 

 signed in the names of both. 



The campaign of Egypt put an end to these joint 

 labours, for Geoffroy was easily induced to follow the 

 young general whose exploits in Italy had already gained 

 him so high a reputation. Having fallen into the sea 

 during his voyage, and not knowing how to swim, 

 Geoffrey was saved almost by accident. On his arrival 

 in the land of Egypt which so forcibly appealed to his 

 ardent imagination, he everywhere accompanied our 

 troops, evincing as much ardour and energy in the ac- 

 complishment of his scientific mission as our soldiers 

 displayed in fulfilling their duty. Having reached the 

 ruins of Thebes, he spent three weeks within the tombs 

 of that ancient capital, examining and studying the 

 mummies of animals, with the view of comparing them 

 with living species ; the result of his assiduous labours 

 was an immense quantity of notes and drawings, the 

 greater part of which were subsequently published. It 

 is well known how this expedition terminated which had 

 begun under such brilliant auspices. The remains of our 

 army were compelled to capitulate ; and availing them- 

 selves of the circumstances, the English wished to secure 

 to their country the glory of publishing all the discove- 

 ries that had been made by our savants. They demanded 

 that all the materials, notes, and drawings, that had been 

 obtained at the cost of such extreme labour and in the 

 midst of so many real dangers, should all be resigned to 

 them, while they offered to allow our compatriots to 

 superintend the publication, and promised in addi- 

 tion to secure for them an honourable position in 



