Eloge ()f Baro7i Cttvier. 345 



order of chivalry, an honour conferred only on five or six of the 

 four hundred pupils whom the establishment contained. Ha- 

 ving thus closed with so much distinction the term of education, 

 for which he was indebted to the munificence of the Duke of 

 Wurtemberg, circumstances rendered it necessary to turn his 

 thoughts to the active business of life. 



One of his friends introduced him to a Protestant family in 

 Normandy, in which he was engaged to superintend the educa- 

 tion of one of the children. This situation had at least the re- 

 commendation of leaving him sufficient leisure for the prosecu- 

 tion of his scientific pursuits. Who does not know how many 

 of those who have done most to extend the domain of science 

 and literature, have, at some period of their lives, derived the 

 means of promoting their own education, from being employed 

 in instructing others ? A few months before his death, M. Cu- 

 vier expressed, from the tribune of the Chamber of Deputies, 

 the pride he felt in his title of Professor ; and never did he de- 

 cline the recollection of his humble entrance on a path which 

 conducted him to so much celebrity. 



When scarcely nineteen years of age, he went, in July 1788, 

 to reside in Normandy, in a house situated near the sea, in the 

 middle of a very insulated district. His retreat was so pro- 

 found, that, when the terrible events of the Revolution of 1789 

 took place, a more secure asylum could not have been chosen ; 

 and even during the days of dismal memory with which the 

 history of that period is stained, M. Cuvier not only escaped the 

 danger which threatened all, especially such as were conspicuous 

 for virtue and excellence, but was able to avail himself of the 

 opportunity which the vicinity of the sea afforded, to prosecute 

 his researches into a science, which of all others was the best cal- 

 culated to prevent the approach of those melancholy and over- 

 whelming thoughts which so many found to be insupportable. 



A fortunate accident procured for him, at the same time, the 

 acquaintance of M. Jessier, whom terror had driven to his neigh- 

 bourhood. Knowing how to appreciate the talents which he 

 soon discerned in the young naturalist, he hastened to put him 

 in terms of correspondence with many scientific men in Paris, 

 particularly MM. Lametherie, Olivier, Lacepede, GeofFroy, and 

 Millin de Grandmaison. As soon as the reign of terror was 

 past, these gentlemen invited him to Paris, where the re-esta- 



