126 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 



Naturelle " a literary power of such high excellence, that 

 his reputation in that respect was not less than that 

 acquired through his scientific works. His countrymen 

 said of him that in his description of the animal world 

 his style attained a degree of richness, nobility, and 

 magnificence that in the French language has never been 

 surpassed. Splendour of diction, conjoined with remark- 

 ably luminous exposition, forms the leading characteristic 

 of this great scientist. In our own day we have Professor 

 Huxley (so distinguished by his intense study of science, 

 and in several of its branches). Careful writing must 

 have commanded his attention, for it is recognised that 

 for lucidity of expression and accuracy of language he 

 may be regarded as a model in English composition. 

 The following quotation from Buffon may be familiar to 

 many, especially to lady-members, but it may be received 

 on this occasion both as a specimen of his st3de, and as 

 showing that if he was, as his countrymen said, unorthodox, 

 he was not irreverent : — " Grand Dieu, dont la senle 

 presence sontient la nature, et maintient I'harmonie des 

 lois de I'univers, vous qui du trone immobile de I'Empyree, 

 voyez rouler sous vos pieds toutes les spheres celestes 

 sans choc et sans confusion ; qui du sein du repos 

 reproduisez a chaque instant leurs mouvements immenses, 

 et seul regissez dans une paix profonde ce nombre infini 

 de cieux et de mondes, rendez, rendez enfin le calme 

 a la terre agitee. Qu'elle soit dans le silence ! Qu a 

 votre voix la discorde et la guerre cessent de faire retentir 

 leurs clameurs orgueilleuses. Dieu de Bonte, auteur de 

 tous les etres, vos regards paternels embrassent tons les 

 objets de la creation ; mais I'homme est votre etre de 

 choix. Vous avez eclaire son ame d'un rayon de votre 

 lumiere immortelle, comblez vos bienfaits en penetrant 

 son coeur d'un trait de votre amour."* The reference 



* Histoire des principaax Ecrivains Fran^ais par Antoine Roche, 

 "jDsqu'a ce jour on s'est pen preoccupe da soin d'initier les 

 femraes a ce progres de I'histoire litteraire." 



