24 LAMARCK, HIS LIFE AND WORK 



cavalier way stricken off from the rolls of the Royal 

 Garden, he at once prepared, printed, and distributed 

 among the members of the National Assembly an 

 energetic claim for restoration to his office.* His 

 defence formed two brochures ; in one he gave an 

 account of his life, travels, and works, and in the 

 other he showed that the place which he filled was 

 a pressing necessity, and could not be conveniently 

 or usefully added to that of the professor of botany, 

 who was already overworked. 



This manly and able plea in his own defence also 

 comprised a broad, comprehensive plan for the organ- 

 ization and development of a great national museum, 

 combining both vast collections and adequate means 

 of public instruction. The paper briefly stated, in 

 courteous language, what he wished to say to public 

 men, in general animated with good intentions, but 

 little versed in the study of the sciences and the 

 knowledge of their application. It praised, in fit 

 terms, the work of the National Assembly, and gave, 

 without too much emphasis, the assurance of an en- 

 tire devotion to the public business. Then in a very 

 clear and comprehensive way were given all the kinds 

 of service which an establishment like the Royal 

 Garden should render to the sciences and arts, and 

 especially to agriculture, medicine, commerce, etc. 

 Museums, galleries, and botanical gardens ; public lec- 

 tures and demonstrations in the museum and school 



* Hamy, 1. c, p. 29. This brochure, of which I possess a copy, 

 is a small quarto pamphlet of fifteen pages, signed, on the last page, 

 "y. B. Lamarck^ ancien Offi-cier au Regiment de Beaujolais, de 

 1 Academic dcs Sciences dc Paris, Botaniste attach^ au Cabinet d His- 

 toire Naturelle du Jardin des Flanies." 



