112 HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM. 



to whom it was confided subsequently to the 

 new organisation. 



The mineralogical chair was at first filled by 

 M. Daubenton, who had professed that science 

 during twenty years at the college of France, 

 and who, notwithstanding his great age, de- 

 livered his annual course with regularity, with- 

 out discontinuing his private instructions. 



From all that we have said, it must be evident 

 how much the Museum, and science in general, 

 are indebted to his co-operation with Buffon. 

 He assembled and disposed almost all the con- 

 tents of the former cabinet ; and when specially 

 intrusted with the mineralogical collection, he 

 bestowed the utmost pains upon its arrangement, 

 passing his mornings in the gallery in examining 

 specimens, answering questions, and attending 

 to the observations of his pupils. Every person 

 listened with respect to this patriarch of natural 

 history, who at the age of 84 years, his hands 

 and feet deformed by the gout, retained all the 

 force and clearness of his intellect, and that free- 

 dom from prejudice which rendered him always 

 accessible to truth. 



The professors at their first meeting appointed 

 him director of the establishment, and wished 

 him, at the expiration of two years, to retain 

 the title and functions; which he declined as an 



