408 ]\r. Je Quatrefages on Charles Darwin. 



appreciate and render intelligible a very considerable mass of 

 researches, bearing upon a multitude of the most diverse sub- 

 jects, and especially a doctrine the profound influence of which 

 has made itself felt, not only in the domain assigned to the 

 natural sciences, but, it may be said, in almost the entire field 

 of human thought. Nevertheless I would not draw back from 

 an appeal by which I considered myself honoured. 



Mj own past in a manner made it a duty for me to an- 

 swer. I have openly combated the doctrines of Darwin, 

 which have been so popular ; but I have always as openly 

 rendered justice to the man and to the philosopher. The 

 Academy knows that from the first to tlie last candidature of 

 our regretted correspondent, neither my vote nor my words 

 have been wanting in his support. Incited by our President, 

 I cannot be silent today. I shall therefore endeavour to 

 summarize, in as few words as possible, the general impres- 

 sion which is left upon my mind by a career, few like which 

 are to be found in the annals of science. 



There were two men in Charles Darwin — a naturalist, ob- 

 server, and experimenter when necessary, and a theoretical 

 thinker. The naturalist is exact, sagacious, and patient ; 

 the thinker is original, often correct, but also often too rash. 

 It is this rashness that led Darwin into paths where many less 

 adventurous naturalists could not follow him. But are we, oji 

 this account, to forget that before he strayed in this manner, 

 and, indeed, in the midst of his most imprudent wanderings, he 

 discovered and opened out daily some new course, in which 

 the most circumspect of men now march after him? 



Darwin never specialized himself. To judge of his entire 

 scientific work one must be a geologist and a botanist quite as 

 much as a zoologist. Being unable by myself to give a de- 

 tailed {motive) judgment upon a great part of his works, I 

 shall limit myself to recalling the proofs of high estimation 

 which have been accorded to them by the most competent 

 authorities. These indisputable testimonies will not fail me. 



On the 27th December, 1831, Darwin (tlien twenty-two 

 years old) embarked on board the ' Beagle,' which, under the 

 command of Captain i'itzroy, was starting upon a voyage 

 round the world. He returned to England after a five-years' 

 expedition, and immediately commenced a series of publica- 

 tions, which very quickly secured him a special place among 

 the naturalists, his compatriots. 



We must first say a word about his "Journal" of the voyage. 

 One hears too little of this book, in which we can already see 

 traces of some of ihe ideas which the author was afterwards to 

 develop, and which contains a multitude of details, some of 



