Eloge of Baron Cuvier. S55 



certain parts of a whole were known, of acquiring an accurate 

 knowledge of those which remained to be discovered. In this 

 admirable introduction, M. Cuvier rises above all prejudices, 

 even those which attach to science, and shews the complete 

 independence and vigour of his mind, whether he undertake to 

 render to ancient historical monuments their just degree of 

 authority, which has oftener than once been disputed on too 

 slight grounds, or to overthrow the rash and foolish theories 

 which have long been in vogue, and whose authors have 

 been so much applauded. He also could originate and create, 

 but this rare and specious talent he owed to the superi- 

 ority of his reason and judgment. A belief has too commonly 

 prevailed, that habits of minute observation have the effect 

 of weakening the imagination ; and there was a time when 

 it would have even been said that they entirely destroyed it* 

 The example of M. Cuvier confirms the proof which Newton 

 had already afforded, that the strength of this noble faculty isj 

 on the contrary, increased by patient and laborious investigation, 

 and plumed as it were for a more lofty flight. This was the 

 case with Aristotle, and, like the Grecian philosopher, M. 

 Cuvier applied it to every branch of human knowledge, there be- 

 ing no subject of which he was ignorant, and which he did not 

 seem, to those most qualified to judge, to have studied ex pro- 

 Jesso. No man was ever better qualified to stand at the head 

 of those who conducted the education of a great nation, and 

 the services which he rendered in this respect are confessedly so 

 important, that although previously alluded to in the enumera- 

 tion of his other labours, I shall be excused for reverting to the 

 subject, and speaking of it more at length. 



M. Cuvier entered upon the office of inspector-general of 

 public instruction, at that brilliant period of the consulship, 

 when every thing in France was remodelled and placed on a 

 new foundation. The power in which the government was cen- 

 tered, although subsequently the object of so much hostihty, 

 was exercised for the time with extraordinary energy and dis^ 

 crimination. I will not speak of the physical difficulties which 

 stood in the way of the new measures which were undertaken ; 

 these, however great, were surpassed by the moral impediments 

 which it was necessary to surmount. To introduce a change into 



