POSITION IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE 67 



mandy a pearl," and invited him to do what he could 

 to induce Cuvier to come to Paris. " I made," said 

 Geoffroy, " the proposition to my confreres, but I was 

 supported, and only feebly, by M. de Lamarck, who 

 slightly knew M. Cuvier as the author of a memoir on 

 entomology." 



The eulogy pronounced by Geoffroy St. Hilaire 

 over the remains of his old friend and colleague was 

 generous, sympathetic, and heartfelt. 



"Yes [he said, in his eloquent way], for us who 

 knew M. de Lamarck, whom his counsels have guided, 

 whom we have found always indefatigable, devoted, 

 occupied so willingly with the most difficult labors, we 

 shall not fear to say that such a loss leaves in our ranks 

 an immense void. From the blessings of such a life, so 

 rich in instructive lessons, so remarkable for the most 

 generous self-abnegation, it is difficult to choose. 



" A man of vigorous, profound ideas, and very often 

 admirably generalized, Lamarck conceived them with 

 a view to the public good. If he met, as often hap- 

 pened, with great opposition, he spoke of it as a con- 

 dition imposed on every one who begins a reform. 

 Moreover, the great age, the infirmities, but especially 

 the grievous blindness of M. de Lamarck had re- 

 served for him another lot. This great and strong 

 mind could enjoy some consolation in knowing the 

 judgment of posterity, which for him began in his 

 own lifetime. When his last tedious days, useless to 

 science, had arrived, when he had ceased to be sub- 

 jected to rivalry, envy and passion became extin- 

 guished and justice alone remained. De Lamarck 

 then heard impartial voices, the anticipated echo of 

 posterity, which would judge him as history will 

 judge him. Yes, the scientific world has pronounced 

 ' its judgment in giving him the name of 'the French 

 Linn6,' thus linking together the two men who have 



