212 Biographical Notice of 
not only displayed all his intellectual advantages, but he 
likewise permitted all his good moral qualities to appear. 
The trust of being useful, the hope of being loved, the at- 
traction of gratitude, removed at such a time all the asperities 
of his outer man. The feeling of predominance was suth- 
cient to make obstinancy and pretension disappear; and 
confiding in his audience, and disguising none of his efforts, 
he gained much by being seen in this light. 
One day, on coming from one of his lectures, an old pupil 
came up to congratulate him on the successful manner in 
which he had treated a great question. “I am glad you 
are satisfied,” M. de Blainville said to him; “ the subject 
was difficult, and for eight days I have meditated on this 
lecture from nine o’clock in the morning till midnight.” 
This confession discovers a very severe conscience; for 
never did any one possess in greater perfection the gift of 
brilliant improvisation. He has been often known, after a 
rich and impassioned lecture of an hour and a half, if but a 
little excited by some objection, to recommence again with 
closed doors, and, recovering immediately all his resources, 
continue arguing with all his might, yielding nothing, and 
always remaining the last champion in the field. 
Such keenness in dispute subjected the friendships he had 
formed to singular trials, and assuredly they never were in 
danger of becoming stagnant in a dead flat. ‘“ During 
nearly half a century,” we are told by a faithful companion, 
the wise Pylades of this hot-headed Orestes, “ during nearly 
half a century that our intimacy lasted, it was rather sus- 
tained and cemented by discussion than by a perfect agree- 
ment.” 
In fact, if M. de Blainville gained the cause too easily in 
behalf of the proposition he supported, he immediately took 
in hand the opposite one. At last it came to be exclaimed with 
impatience, What is really your opinion ? is it yes ?—No, it is 
not yes. Itis then no? I have proved to you that it could 
not be no. It must be one or the other; say which, “ O/ ho!” 
he then exclaimed, “ Do you forget then that I am a Nor- 
man?’ Kyverything in him, both physical and moral, re- 
called this origin. 
6» & stam, 
ae 
