Xlvi PRELIMINARY SKETCH OF THE 



tory in general, much less than the other nations 

 of Europe, a fact which is evidently the re- 

 sult of their political constitution, for human 

 knowledge invariably follows the fate of em- 

 pires, and the degree of civilization. 



But it must be owned, in spite of every rival 

 feeling, that France is the country of all Eu- 

 rope, which, in our times, has given the strong- 

 est impulse to the progress of natural science 

 in general, and of Zoology in particular. It 

 would be foreign to our purpose, to speak of 

 the success with which this indefatigable and 

 enlightened nation has cultivated botany, mi- 

 neralogy, and other physical sciences ; but it 

 cannot be denied, that for the most perfect 

 zoological methods we are indebted to French- 

 men. 



One of the greatest merits attached to France 

 on this point is, that the sciences have been 

 cultivated with the most untiring enthusiasm, 

 amid political tempests that have shaken her 

 to her very centre, amid the tumult of war, 

 and the intoxication of conquest, and under 

 the saddest reverses of fortune. 



We will proceed with our brief view of the 

 progress of Zoology under these great men, 

 from the time of Pallas and Buffon. 



The united efforts of those two philoso- 



