MEMOIR OF LAMARCK. 
25 
some profitable account, for a place happening to 
become vacant in the botanical department of the 
Academy of Sciences, Lamarck was presented with 
the appointment, in preference to others of older 
standing and much higher pretensions. He thus 
acquired a certain status among men of science, 
which encouraged him to prosecute the studies 
which he had so successfully begun, and at the 
same time afforded him the means of doing so in a 
more efficient manner. 
Another important advantage was derived by 
Lamarck from the friendship of M. de Buffon. 
When the son of the latter had completed his 
studies, and was about to make a tour through 
various parts of Europe, Lamarck was invited to 
accompany him as tutor; and hi order that he 
might enjoy greater privileges hy appearing in a 
kind of official character, Buffon procured for him a 
commission as botanist to the king, for the purpose 
of visiting foreign gardens and cabinets, and open- 
ing a correspondence between them and similar 
establishments in Paris. In this double capacity he 
travelled through various countries in the year 1781 
and 1782 ; visited Gleditsch at Berlin, Jacquin at 
Vienna, Murray at Gottingen, and many other cele- 
brated naturalists ; greatly extending his acquaint- 
ance, not only with botany, but with many other 
branches of natural history. 
The extent and accuracy of his botanical know- 
ledge was evinced by the important works in which 
he engaged shortly after his return, which have 
