494 
fault in an enthufiaft: we fhould alfo 
recollect, that it is alone by numerous 
minute ftrokes of the pencil, that an ac- 
curate likenefs can be drawn. 
** Upon receiving this invitation (fays 
M. SEcHELLEs) [ immediately fet off 
for Montbart ; but when [I arrived at 
Semur, which is not more than three 
miles diftant, I learned that M. de 
BUFFON was afflicted with the molt 
excruciating pains of the gravel; that he 
was confined to his chamber; that no 
one was permitted to approach him, ex- 
cepting his fon, and he for a few minutes 
only atatime. 1 therefore determined 
to ftay at Semur, without informing him 
of my’ approach, left I fhould be guilty 
of anindifcretion. Notwithftanding this 
caution, | continued at Semur only three 
days. M.de Burron, being infermed 
by_a letter from Paris, that I was on my 
journey, had the politenefs, in the midit 
of his fufferings, to fend a mefienger to 
Semur, to inform me, that, notwith- 
ftanding his general orders, he was im- 
patient to fee me; preffled me to take up 
my abode at his manfion, that we might 
have an interview the inftant his pains 
would permit. JI immediately left Se- 
mur. On my arrival at Montbart, I was 
received by his fon, a young officer in 
the guards, who immediately conduéted © 
me to his father. Judge of my emotions 
as I afcended the ftairs, and paffed 
through the grande fale,adorned with the 
birds which he has delineated, and de- 
{cribed in his larger work! When I was 
itroduced into his chamber, he came to 
Me out of another apartment ; but I was 
ftruck with a fingularity which I thought 
ftrongly marked his charaéter; though he 
knew that a firanger was in the room, he 
turned his back to me for a confiderabie 
time, flowly fhutting the door. This J 
afcribed to that love of erder, which isa 
remarkable trait in his character ; or per- 
haps fatiated with praife, he was no 
longer impatient to receive it; or it might 
have been with defign; flattered by my 
ardent defire of his acquaintance, 1t might 
have been an artifice to augment this de- 
fire yet more by a momentary delay. At 
length, he approached me fuil of dignity, 
with extended arms. I ftammered out 
fome expreffions, with which I carefully 
intermixed Monfiewr le Compie, having 
been affured that the appellation was not 
unpleafing to him. Embracing me, he 
anfwered, ‘* J confider you already as an 
** old acquaintance, fince you have long 
«¢ expreffed a defire to fee me, and on 
‘* my part, I have long withed to be- 
Memoirs of the Chevalier de Buffon. 
[Sup, 
** come acquainted with you.” A fine, 
venerable, and refpectable figure now 
ftood before me. Though he was feventy- 
eight years of age, he did not feem to have 
pafled his fixtieth year ; which was the 
more remarkable, as he had paffed fix- 
teen fleeplefs nights through the excefs 
of pain. He was blooming as a youth, 
and compofed, as if he had been totally 
exempt from pain. But I have been in- 
formed, that in his greateft fufferings he 
is never fretful or impatient, and that it 
is his conftant ambition to fhow himfelf 
fuperior to his affl:€tions. : 
“* His buft, executed by Houpow, re- 
fembles him the moft: but the artift was 
not able to reprefent on ftone his lively 
black eyes, and arched eyebrows, form- 
ing a pleafing contraft to his fine fhowy 
locks. Though he was fo much indif- 
pofed, his hair was drefled. This is one- 
of his particularities, and it becomes him. 
well. Every day it is put in papulots, 
crifpt with irons, &c. as fometimes he 
has it curled in the morning, and again 
in the evening, before fupper. His hair 
is dreffed in five {mall negligent ringlets, 
tied with a ribband, and hanging down 
to the middle of his back. He was dreff- 
ed in a yellow robe de chambre, orna- 
mented with white ftripes and blue flow- 
ers. He defired me to fit down, con- 
verfed about the ftate of his health, and 
paid me fome compliments concerning 
the degree of applaufe which, as he was 
pleafed to obferve, my eloquent dif- 
courtes had obtained from the public. 
Without returning an anfwer to the 
praifes beftowed upon me, in my turn, I 
comphmented him upon his extenfive 
fame. Our converfation afterwards turn- 
ed upon the great advantage of difcern- 
ing in our youth, to what occupations our 
talents were be{t adapted; he immediate- 
ly repeated a couple of pages which he 
had written in fome of his works upon 
this very fubjeét. His manner of recit- 
ing is plain and uninterefting, totally void 
of grace ; as his aétion confiited in the 
alrernatt movement of his hands. His 
voice, confidering his years, is firm, and 
its tone is fingularly pleafing. His eyes, 
when-he recites, are totally void of ex- 
preflion ;. perpetually wandering, either 
through cuftom, or from intenfenefs of 
thought. His favourite words are fout ¢a 
and pardieu, which he repeats every mo- 
ment. But, although his fpeech and 
manner have nothing particularly ftrik- 
ing, whoever is attentive to his converla-~ 
tion will perceive great propriety of lan~ 
guage, enriched with much ufeful infor. 
Matione 
_ 
