176 MEMOIRS OF 



that France owes the magnificent museum of 

 the Jardin des Plantes, where we must be struck 

 with tlie unwearied patience of the man who 

 amassed all tliese treasures, named them, classed 

 them, disphiyed their affinities, described their 

 parts, and explained their properties.* A 

 monument equally glorious to the memory of 

 Daubenton is the complete description of this 

 museum, though circumstances prevented him 

 from carrying it farther than the quadrupeds. 

 Reaumur, who had till then swayed the sceptre 

 of natural history, and whose " Memoirs on In- 

 sects'* are clear, elegant, and highly interesting, 

 jealous of the increasing fame of the two great 

 naturalists, not only attacked Buffon but his 

 friend, whom he considered as the solid supporter 

 of his brilliant rival. Quarrels even took place 



* It is impossible to read these pages without being im- 

 pressed with the application of several of the passages to the 

 author himself, who appears, however, to be perfectly uncon- 

 scious of the resemblance. At the time he wrote this con- 

 cerning Daubenton, he was walking with rapid strides in his 

 steps, and how he surpassed him is best told by the state of 

 the whole of the above establishment at the time of M. Cu- 

 vier's death. I understand that considerable difficulty has 

 been felt more than once in writing the eloge of M. Cuvier. 

 A selection from his own concerning others might be made 

 with the strictest justice, and the utmost aptitude ; and the 

 candid praise he delighted to bestow on his colleagues would 

 thus in every respect be his best eulogium. 



