MEMOIR OF BUFFOS. 27 



in 1782, only six years before his death, and when 

 he began to feel very severely the tortures of a pain- 

 ful malady. During the progress of the work,, he 

 appears also to have kept up that unremitting perseve- 

 rance which characterises the pursuits of his earlier 

 yeafsTand he is said to have employed fourteen hours 

 daily in writing and study, until compelled by pain to 

 limit his exertions. 



Previous to the publication of the first volume of 

 his Natural History, Buffon was enabled to increase 

 his domestic felicity, by a marriage with a lady with 

 whom he had been for some time acquainted. In 1752, 

 he married Mademoiselle Saint Belin, who, though 

 without fortune, possessed qualifications which render- 

 ed the happiness of her husband undoubted. She 

 eagerly followed the train of honours which was now 

 brightly expanding upon him, and watched every 

 step which he gained with fresh anxiety; many 

 years seem thus to have been passed in great tran- 

 quillity, and present an unvaried routine of research 

 and addition to the works which were advancing. 

 During the height of this bright career, he was honour- 

 ed with marks of approbation by many of the sove- 

 reigns of Europe, and by the learned societies of his 

 country. In 1771, Louis XIV. conferred upon him 

 the distinction of erecting his estate into a Compte ; 

 and, inviting him to Fontainbleau, wished him to 

 accept the office of Administrator of the Forests in his 

 dominions, which Buifon however refused. 



