Cuvier as a Naturalist. 353 



he says on human anatomy, in order to procure more Uicid ex- 

 planations than those contained in the text-books of the schools. 

 In short, throughout his whole writings are to be found these tests 

 of true genius, profundity, perspicacity, and precision. His first 

 lecture on Comparative Anatomy contains all that is known on 

 organization and physiology ; his Introduction to the Animal 

 Kingdom presents a most distinct analysis of his zoological dis- 

 tributions, together with all that can be said on systems; finally, 

 the preliminary discourse to the fossil bones gives an admirable 

 exposition of the principles of the harmony of forms, and all the 

 theories on the formation and revolutions of the globe. He 

 gives, at the same time, a view of the historical documents which 

 are thought to authorise the opinion of the high antiquity of 

 different people. 



Hitherto we have been so occupied by the examination of M. 

 Cuvier's works, that we have neglected to speak of the position 

 in society to which their celebrity raised him : it affords an ex- 

 ample to youth, inciting them to labour, and not to allow them- 

 selves to be overcome by discouragement. He was raised to the 

 professorship in the Museum of Natural History, and became 

 successively professor to the College of France, member of the 

 Legion of Honour, member of the Institute, one of its first an- 

 nual secretaries, and perpetual secretary ; inspector of studies, 

 counsellor of the Imperial University, master of requests, coun- 

 sellor of state, grand officer of the Legion of Honour, one of the 

 forty of the French Academy, honorary member of the Aca- 

 demy of Inscriptions, member of all the learned societies of the 

 world, and finally, a peer of France. 



A lengthened list of his occupations might produce the belief 

 that ambition, as if to furnish a new proof that genius is not ex- 

 empted from human weaknesses, held this master of science in 

 subjection to her yoke. To such as are disposed to entertain 

 this opinion, we may mention, that he many times refused the 

 appointment of Superintendent of the Jardin du Roi, rendered 

 so celebrated by Buffbn, and that, a short time before the death 

 of M. de Richelieu, he refused the portefeuille of the minister 

 of the interior. So far was he from soliciting places and 

 honours, that some of them were conferred on him in his ab- 

 sence. He was at Marseilles when he was elected perpetual 



