BARON CUVIER. 173 



eloquence seemed to wrestle with his reason 

 before he employed it in captivating others. 

 Daubenton, delicate in constitution, moderate 

 by nature as well as reason, pursued his re- 

 searches with the most scrupulous circumspec- 

 tion ; he only believed and affirmed that which 

 he had seen and touched ; and far, very far, 

 from wishing to persuade by other means than 

 facts, he carefully avoided, both in his writings 

 and discourse, every figure of speech, and every 

 fascinating expression. Unalterable in patience, 

 he was never annoyed at delay ; he recom- 

 menced the same labour over and over again, 

 until he had succeeded to his satisfaction ; and. 

 the method of his proceedings, while it seemed 

 to call into use every mental resource, seemed to 

 impose silence on his imagination. When BufTon 

 first attached him to the Jardin des Plantes, he 

 thought he had found a laborious aid, who would 

 smooth the ruggedness of his path ; but he found 

 much more, for Daubenton was a faithful guide, 

 who pointed out to him the hidden dangers and 

 precipices of that path. Many times did the sly 

 smile of Daubenton, when he conceived a doubt, 

 induce Buffon to reconsider his ideas. Many 

 times did one of those words, which this friend 

 knew so well where to place, stop him in his 



