THE FRENCH INSTITUTE. 93 



of Champollion caught the suggestion, and at once putting it to 

 the test and amplifying it until he had completed an alphabet, 

 found true what Young had only surmised. Since, according to 

 the old adage, which rules the scientific world, that " he only dis- 

 covers who first proves," Champollion shares with Young the 

 honor of making one of the most important discoveries of this 

 century. 



July 19, 1830, is the date of the sitting of the Academy of Sci- 

 ences when the rupture between Cuvier and Geoffroy de Saint- 

 Hilaire took place. It was a battle of giants. Although Paris 

 was in commotion for it was in the midst of the Revolution of 

 July the Academy was filled with French scientists. These life- 

 long friends had for some years a growing difference, which from 

 its very nature was irreconcilable, upon the comparative merits 

 of the synthetic and the analytical methods of studying nature, 

 and which finally resulted in the tempestuous debate in the Acad- 

 emy. Geoffroy, as a synthesist, maintained that organic forms are 

 built on one plan of construction, of the same elements, of the 

 same number, and of the same relation between organs ; while, on 

 the other hand, changed conditions varied the size and use of 

 organs, but not the plan, and that species have undergone modi- 

 fications in the change of time. Cuvier, as an analyst, could see 

 no evidence of variability in species, and held that every organ 

 was specially created for the purpose for which it was used. The 

 echoes of this combat are still resounding throughout the scien- 

 tific world, but with more and more unequaled result. 



Geoffroy was one of Napoleon's scientific staff in Egypt, and 

 for his firm stand, at the surrender of Alexandria, in resisting the 

 claims of the English general to the rich collection, was honored 

 upon his return with decorations by the emperor, and an election 

 to the Academy of Sciences. In 1795 Geoffroy was put in corre- 

 spondence with a youth in Normandy, who was devoting himself 

 to natural history, and was so impressed with the originality of 

 the young man's manuscripts that he invited him to Paris with 

 the rather enthusiastic, but, as it proved, prophetic words, " Venez 

 jouer parmi nous le role de Linnd, d'un autre legislature de l'his- 

 toire naturelle.," 



Georges Cuvier, to whom these words were addressed, came to 

 Paris, entered Geoffroy's household, and wrote with Geoffroy 

 many joint papers. It is to the credit of both men that the life- 

 long friendship, which was for a time broken by the debate of 

 1830, was renewed and continued to death. 



The undoubted genius of Cuvier was early recognized; for 

 when, in 1795, the Institute was reorganized, he was elected a 

 member of the Section on Zoology. This confidence was well 

 founded, for his work was truly epochal, and to this day the 



