Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Foreign Butterflies.djvu/27

Rh 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 in order that he might enjoy greater privileges by 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 opening 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 celebrated naturalists; greatly extending his acquaintance, not only with botany, but with many other branches of natural history.

The extent and accuracy of his botanical knowledge was evinced by the important works in which he engaged shortly after his return, which have