MEMOIR OF LAMARCK. 25 



some profitable account, for a place happening to 

 become vacant in tlie botanical department of the 

 Academy of Sciences, Lamarck was presented with 

 the appointment, in preference to others of older 

 standing and much higher pretensions. He thus 

 acquired a certain status among men of science, 

 which encouraged him to prosecute the studies 

 which he had so successfully begun, and at the 

 same time afforded him the means of doing so in a 

 more efficient manner. 



Another important advantage was derived by 

 Lamarck from the friendship of M. de Buffon. 

 When the son of the latter had completed his 

 studies, and was about to make a tour through 

 various parts of Europe, Lamarck was invited to 

 accompany him as tutor; and in order that he 

 might enjoy greater privileges by appearing in a 

 kind of official character, Buffon procured for him a 

 commission as botanist to the king, for, the purpose 

 of visiting foreign gardens and cabinets, and open- 

 ing a correspondence between them and similar 

 establishments in Paris. In this double capacity he 

 travelled through various countries in the year 1781 

 and 1782; visited Gleditsch at Berlin, Jacquin at 

 Vienna, Murray at Gottingen, and many other cele- 

 brated naturalists ; greatly extending his acquaint- 

 ance, not only with botany, but with many other 

 branches of natural history. 



The extent and accuracy of his botanical know- 

 ledge was evinced by the important works in which 

 he engaged shortly after his return, which have 



