22 MEMOIB OP BTJFIW. 



his desk examining the papers which were submitted 

 to his judgment. At nine o'clock he went to bed, to 

 prepare himself for the same routine of judgment and 

 pleasure. In this manner were spent no fewer than 

 fifty years of his life." 



During the whole period of Buffon's career, we find 

 him particular and anxious, regarding the purity and 

 elegance of his style ; and he translated many standard 

 works in various languages with the view of improving 

 it. The first of these which he published, was "Hales's 

 Vegetable Statics," and (from the Latin) an edition 

 of Newton's Fluxions ; both were accompanied with 

 appropriate prefaces of considerable length and ability. 

 The latter work coincided with the turn of mind which 

 he exhibited in his early studies, and the first was 

 most likely commenced, with the double purpose of 

 improving his knowledge in the English language, and 

 of increasing his acquaintance with the extensive woods 

 which occupied a great part of his property, and were 

 of much importance in his annual revenue. At this 

 time he also instituted and carried through experi- 

 ments, to prove the relative strength of the different 

 woods which were used in France for purposes of 

 public utility, and the best season for cutting the 

 timber. 



The next subject with which he became interested, 

 was the manner in which the Roman fleet under com- 

 mand of Marcellus, was set on fire by Archimedes 

 and which was supposed, could not be accomplished 



