CHAPTER III 



LAMARCK'S SHARE IN THE REORGANIZATION OF 

 THE JARDIN DES PLANTES AND MUSEUM OF 

 NATURAL HISTORY 



Even in his humble position as keeper of the 

 herbarium, with its pitiable compensation, Lamarck, 

 now an eminent botanist, with a European reputa- 

 tion, was by no means appreciated or secure in his 

 position. He was subjected to many worries, and, 

 already married and with several children, suffered 

 from a grinding poverty. His friend and supporter. 

 La Billarderie, was a courtier, with much influence at 

 the Tuileries, but as Intendant of the Royal Garden 

 without the least claim to scientific fitness for the 

 position; and in 1790 he was on the point of dis- 

 charging Lamarck.* On the 20th of August the 

 Finance Committee reduced the expenses of the Royal 

 Garden and Cabinet, and, while raising the salary of 

 the professor of botany, to make good the deficiency 

 thus ensuing suppressed the position of keeper of 

 the herbarium, filled by Lamarck. Lamarck, on 

 learning of this, acted promptly, and though in this 



^ Another intended victim of La Billarderie, whose own salary had 

 been at the same time reduced, was Faujas de Saint-Fond, one of the 

 founders of geology. But his useful discoveries in economic geology 

 having brought him distinction, the king had generously pensioned 

 him, and he was retained in office on the printed £tat distributed by 

 the Committee of Finance. (Hamy, 1. c, p. 29.) 



