74 
MEMOIB OF PLINY. 
and the physical sciences. Its most obvious defect 
is the want of any thing like system or classifica- 
tion ; for it is impossible to conjecture on what prin- 
ciple the different species of animals, birds, and rep- 
tiles are arranged. Like almost every writer of emi- 
nence, Pliny has found panegyrists who have lavish- 
ed upon him the most extravagant praise, and ca- 
lumniators who would allow him no merit whatever. 
“ It is astonishing (says Buffon) that in every depart- 
ment he is equally great. Elevation of ideas and 
grandeur of style give additional elevation to his pro- 
found erudition. His work, which is as varied as 
Nature, paints her always in a favourable light. It 
may be said to be a compilation of all that had pre- 
viously been written, a transcript of every thing use- 
ful and excellent that existed ; but in this copy the 
execution is so bold, in this compilation the mate- 
rials are disposed in a manner so new, that it is pre- 
ferable to the greater part of the originals which treat 
of the same subjects.” * 
The cool judgment of Cuvier, although in our opi- 
nion occasionally too severe, is more to be depended 
upon, in a scientific point of view, than the enthu- 
siasm of Buffon. It were impossible, he remarks, that 
in handling, even in the briefest manner, such a prodi- 
gious number of topics, Pliny should not have made 
known a multitude of farts, not only remarkable in 
themselves, but the more valuable to us, as he is the 
only author that records them. Unfortunately, how- 
• Buffon, Premier Discours sur I’Histoire Naturelle. 
