34«2 . Cuvier as a Naturalist. 



The labours of Saussure, Deluc, Pallas, Werner, &c. ap- 

 peared to have brought Geology to that degree of perfection it 

 seemed capable of attaining ; but by the discovery of a kind of 

 monuments which living nature has left in the bowels of the 

 earth, M. Cuvier originated in this science a new order of ideas, 

 which have changed the character of its philosophy. 



Such is an abridgment of what this modern Aristotle has 

 done for zoology, comparative anatomy, and the history of the 

 earth. 



It may seem that the labours entailed by giving a new im- 

 pulsion to three branches of natural science, would have sufficed 

 to give occupation and celebrity to the longest life : but this was 

 not enough for the vast mind of Cuvier. Historian of science 

 and of the academy, an eloquent professor, and author of many 

 immortal works, he wished, moreover, to render more immediate 

 services to his cotemporaries, by connecting himself with the 

 body that superintended the instruction of youth ; and the ta- 

 lents for business which he displayed in this capacity, caused 

 -him ultimately to be called to take a part in the deliberations 

 of the Council of State, and, some years afterwards, to preside 

 over one of the sections. It was thus that he was drawn into 

 a path which the events of our days have beset with so many 

 difficulties, and in which, experienced as he was in searching for 

 , truth, animated with that religious regard for justice which the 

 rectitude of his character inspired, enlightened by a profound 

 knowledge of administration, and guided by an integrity worthy 

 of primitive times, he has acquired, as a politician, perhaps as 

 • great a celebrity as he did in the character of a man of science, 

 be: It will readily be understood, that his numerous works were 

 not published in any regular succession according to the nature 

 of the subjects; and as we are not writing his biography, but 

 his eloge, that is an appreciation of his merits, that we may not 

 tire the reader by frequent recurrence to the same subject, we 

 shall not follow them in chronological order, but in the order of 

 the subjects as they have been briefly indicated, and attempt to 

 characterize what he has done in each ; but as long details of 

 his life would prevent this, we shall mention only such circum- 

 stances as appear indispensable. 



