52 ELOGE ON BUFFOS'. 



their master, seduced and attracted by his eloquence, 

 soon brought, of their own accord, all that they were 

 able to furnish him. The materials thus coming into 

 him on all sides, he seemed to employ nothing more 

 than his voice in the construction of his edifice. 



In fact, throughout the whole of Europe, it may even 

 be said throughout the whole world, all philosophers 

 and men of observation, travellers going to a distance 

 to interrogate nature, and observers more limited in 

 their scope ; and also, on their side, all people in office, 

 ministers, and kings themselves; all those, in short, 

 who were in a condition, either by knowledge or power, 

 to second such a work, devoted themselves to Buffon. 

 Some of them lent the assistance of their talents, others 

 of their authority. Hence, without ever leaving his 

 cabinet, he had the means of collecting a greater num- 

 ber of observations, and acquiring a greater amount of 

 knowledge, than the longest journeys would have fur- 

 nished him with. All parts of the globe, accessible to 

 the industry or curiosity of Europeans, became, as it 

 were, present to his eyes. All he wished to know was 

 described or painted by the most skilful hands ; every 

 thing he wished to see was transported across moun- 

 tains and seas. Any fact which might appear new, an 

 interesting remark or discovery, in whatsoever part of 

 the earth accident or research had given rise to it, was 

 instantly treasured up and communicated to Buffon by 

 a multitude of individuals, jealous to deserve what 

 would distinguish them, and whose names a stroke of 



