[Illustration: Light-houses of (1) Winstanley, (2) Smeaton, and (3) Rudyerd.] [Illustration: _Engraved by Robert Hart._ BUFFON. _From an original Picture by Drouais in the collection of the Institute of France._ Under the Superintendance of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. _London, Published by Charles Knight, Pall Mall East._ ] [Illustration] BUFFON. Buffon is reported to have said—and the vanity which was his predominant foible may have given some colour to the assertion—“I know but five great geniuses, Newton, Bacon, Leibnitz, Montesquieu, and myself.” Probably no author ever received from his contemporaries so many excitements to such an exhibition of presumption and self-consequence. Lewis XV. conferred upon him a title of nobility; the Empress of Russia was his correspondent; Prince Henry of Prussia addressed him in the language of the most exaggerated compliment; and his statue was set up during his life-time in the cabinet of Lewis XVI., with such an inscription as is rarely bestowed even upon the most illustrious of past ages[2]. After the lapse of half a century we may examine the personal character, and the literary merits, of this celebrated man with a more sober judgment. Footnote 2: Majestati naturæ par ingenium. The history of Buffon is singularly barren of incident. At an early age he devoted himself to those studies of natural history which have rendered his name so famous; and at eighty years old he was still labouring at the completion of the great plan to which he had dedicated his life.