Finally, besides all these works and lectures, Dau-benton had a share in editing the Journal des Savans; and, in his latter years, at the request of the Committee of Public Instruction, he had undertaken to compose Elements of Natural History for the use of the Primary Schools; but these elements were not completed.

We are naturally led to inquire, how it happened, that one of frail temperament, and with so many laborious occupations, could reach so advanced an age without any painful infirmities. This was owing to a careful study of himself, and an attention calculated equally to avoid excesses of body, heart, and intellect. His regimen, without being austere, was very uniform ; he always lived in easy circumstances, esteeming fortune and grandeur at their real value, and having little desire for them-. He had, in particular, the strength of mind to avoid the danger to which almost all literary characters are exposed, an inordinate passion for reputation. His researches were an amusement to him rather than a labour. A portion of his time was employed in reading; with his wife, romances, stories, and Other light works; the most frivolous works of the day were read by him. This he called "putting his mind a la diete."

There can be no doubt, that this uniformity of regi-men, and constancy of health, contributed much to that kindliness of disposition which rendered his society so agreeable; but another feature of his character, which contributed not less to this, and which struck all who came near him, was the good opinion he appeared to have of mankind.

It seemed naturally to arise from this, that he had seen little of them; and being exclusively occupied with the contemplation of Nature, he never took any share in the proceedings of the active part of society. But it sometimes went to an astonishing length. Although of such delicate tact in detecting error, he never seemed to suspect a falsehood; he always manifested new surprise when intrigue or interest, concealed under a fair exterior, was exposed to him. Whether this ignorance was natural to him, or he had voluntarily disregarded the knowledge of mankind, in order to spare himself the annoyance endured by those who know them best, it did not fail to throw over his conversation an air of charity and good nature, the more to be admired, as it contrasted so strongly with the spirit of keen discrimination he displayed in all matters of pure reasoning. It was impossible, accordingly, to have intercourse with him without loving him; and never did any man receive more numerous proofs of affection or respect from others, at all periods of his life, and under all successive governments.

He has been blamed for having received honours unworthy of him, and odious from the very names of those who offered them; but this was a consequence of the system, with which he judged even statesmen, which led him never to suppose their motives to be different from what they expressed; a dangerous method, no doubt, but which, perhaps, we have too much abandoned in the present day.

Another disposition of his mind, and which has further contributed to these imputations of pusillanimity or egotism which have been made against him even in printed works, which however does not justify them the more, was his entire obedience to the law, not as being just, but simply as the law. This submission to human laws was absolutely of the same description as that which he had for the laws of nature: it no more permitted him to murmur against those which deprived him of fortune, or the reasonable use of his liberty, than against those which disfigured his limbs with gout. Some one has said of him, that he looked upon the swellings of his fingers with the same sang-froid as he would have done the knots on a tree; and this was literally true. It was equally true of the indifference with which he would have given up his situation and fortune, and gone into distant exile, had tyrants required it of him.

Besides, even although the maintenance of his tranquillity may have been the motive of some of his actions, does not the use which he made of that tranquillity absolve him from blame? And the man who extracted so many secrets from Nature, and laid the foundations of a science almost new; who has given to his country an entire branch of industry; who has reared one of the most important monuments in science, and formed so many enlightened pupils, many of whom now occupy the first places among the philosophers of the day, Does such a man now require to be justified for having managed to accomplish the means of doing all this good to his country and to humanity?

The universal acclamations of his fellow-citizens answer for me against such accusations. The last and most solemn marks of their esteem have terminated a most useful career in a manner most glorious; perhaps we have even to regret that they shortened its ,course.

Having been nominated a member of the. conservative senate, he was desirous to fulfil his new duties as he had discharged those of his whole life. He was obliged to make some change in his regimen. The season was very severe. The first time he attended a meeting of the body who elected him, he. was struck with apoplexy, and fell senseless into the arms of his alarmed colleagues. The most prompt assistance could restore consciousness only for a few minutes, during which he appeared, as he always had been, the tranquil observer of Nature. He continued to touch with his fingers, which were not deprived of sensation, the different parts of his body, indicating to his attendants the progress of the paralysis. He died, on the 31st December, 1799, at the age of eighty-four, without suffering; so that we may say, that he attained a happiness, if not attended with the most brilliant accompaniments, at least more perfect and free from mixture than we can reasonably expect here.

His funeral was such as became one of our first magistrates, one of our most illustrious philosophers, and one of our most respectable citizens. People of all ranks and ages rendered to his ashes the testimony of their veneration. His remains were deposited in the Garden he had embellished, and which his virtues had honoured for sixty years; and his tomb, according to the expression of an individual who does equal honour to the sciences and the senate, will render it an elysium, by adding the charms of sentiment to the beauties of Nature. Two of his colleagues have been the eloquent interpreters of the sorrow of all who knew him. Pardon me, if these painful feelings affect me at this moment, when I ought to be only the interpreter of the public gratitude, and if they carry me away from the ordinary tone of an academical eloge; pardon him, I say, whom he honoured with his kindness, and whose master and benefactor he was.

Madame Daubenton, whose agreeable works have made her name known in literature, and with whom he passed fifty years in happy union, brought him no children.

His place in the Institute was filled by M. Pinel; in the Museum of Natural History by M. Hauy; and I had the happiness to be chosen as his successor in the College of France.

J. OGDRN AND CO., PRINTERS, 172, ST. JOHN STREET, E.C.