Faithful in death to the instincts of order and regularity which had always controlled his mind even in his boldest flight, he requested that all the ceremonies of religion should be fulfilled around his body.

His son had it removed to Montbard, where it lies between his father and his wife.
Buffon had lived long, he had accomplished in peace his great work, he had reaped the fruits of it.

On the eve of the terrible shocks whereof no presage disturbed his spirit, "directed for fifty years towards the great objects of nature," the illustrious scholar had been permitted to see his statue placed during his lifetime in the _Jardin du Roi_.

On sending to the Empress Catherine his bust which she had asked him for, he wrote to his son who had charge of it: "I forgot to remark to you, whilst talking of bust and effigy, that, by the king's order, they have put at the bottom of my statue the following inscription: _Majestati naturae par ingenium_ (Genius to match the majesty of nature).

It is not from pride that I send you this, but perhaps Her Majesty will have it put at the bottom of the bust." "How many great men do you reckon ?" Buffon was asked one day.