S56 Kloge of Baron Cuvier, 



the system of study, and to regulate the new disciphne of schools, 

 so as to adapt them to the wants of a new social condition, and 

 render them most favourable to those principles of public and do- 

 mestic order, without which there can be neither tranquillity nor 

 happiness in a family nor in a state ; to triumph over a revolu- 

 tionary and subversive spirit, by giving to the rising generation 

 knowledge and habits tending to counteract it ; add to these the 

 delicate task of selecting the means most fit and worthy to be 

 employed ; and you will have a brief representation of the duties 

 undertaken by those with whom M. Cuvier co-operated. But 

 in all bodies formed for the management of a complex and diffi- 

 cult business, the actual labour falls on such as are best fitted 

 by their tastes and talents to execute it successfully. Accord- 

 ingly, there is scarcely any portion of what composes the vast 

 edifice of public instruction in France, where traces of his hand 

 are not perceptible. He was interested particularly in the 

 higher departments of learning, or academical instruction, for 

 the regulation of which, in the departments of medicine, science, 

 and literature, he prepared the judicious laws which foreign 

 nations have studied to imitate. I have mentioned his missions 

 in 1809 and 1810 to Italy, Belgium, and Holland. In order 

 to become acquainted with his proceedings in these places, we 

 have only to consult the documents he drew up, which are for- 

 tunately preserved. Three printed reports, addressed to the 

 grand-master, furnish much interesting matter even to the gene- 

 ral reader, and afford valuable information on foreign universi- 

 ties, and the state of learning among our neighbours. I can 

 take upon me especially to recommend that relating to Holland. 

 The views and opinions of M. Cuvier are explained in it with 

 unusual felicity. He touches on the true causes of the inferi- 

 ority in classical learning then observable in that country He 

 shews, that the indifference with which the subject was pur- 

 sued, ought to be attributed to the limited nature of the sub- 

 ject. The greater scope that is given to the mind of youths, he 

 says, they will become more diligent, more studious, and more 

 desirous of knowledge : a gratifying homage to the human 

 faculties, which are invigorated and ennobled in proportion as 

 they are furnished with opportunities worthy of calling them 

 into exercise. 



