259, Ehge of Barcyti Cuvier. 



which he has not analysed, and described its origin and progress, 

 with such a degree of precision and perspicuity as to bring it to 

 the level of every capacity. Of this kind of composition some 

 beautiful examples had already appeared ; Fontenelle, D'Alem- 

 bert, Condorcet, Vicq-d'Azir, were each distinguished, although 

 for different qualities ; M. Cuvier was perhaps more fitted to 

 excel in it than any of his predecessors. Aiming less at effect 

 than Fontenelle by brilliancy of thought or studied elegance of 

 style; free from the disdainful and ill disguised scepticism 

 which so often deprives the writings of D'Alembert and 

 Condorcet of an air of freedom, and gives to them the dry and 

 tedious character of a philosophical disquisition ; possessed of 

 more profound and varied knowledge than Vicq-d'Azir (whose 

 eulogium on Buffon, however, is equal to the subject, and there- 

 fore sufficient to establish his reputation,) he could intersperse, 

 in the most attractive manner, his instructive and able exposi- 

 tion of the labours and discoveries of those whom he celebrated, 

 with numerous details of their history and private life, which 

 generally attested the humble origin from which they had emerg- 

 ed to usefulness and celebrity. It is easy to conceive a style 

 more correct and skilfully laboured than his, but it is difficult 

 to imagine one better adapted to his extensive erudition, or 

 more serviceable, since it was always most appropriate to the 

 subject of which he was treating, and to the thought he requir- 

 ed to express. There is doubtless something paradoxical in the 

 celebrated axiom of Buffon, that style is the man himself: it 

 must, however, be acknowledged that no one can give efficiency to 

 the talent he possesses, unless heaven at the same time has endow- 

 ed him with the power of rendering his ideas as vivid to another 

 as they are to himself, as it is only by the expression of them 

 that he can obtain an influence over those whom he undertakes 

 to instruct and convince. 



M. Cuvier had received from nature a due proportion of this 

 invfiluable endowment : one whose thoughts were spread over so 

 vast a field, required an instrument for enabling him to diffuse 

 them as readily as they were conceived, and to communicate 

 them to every mind capable of following him ; and you are 

 aware that his success in this respect left nothing to be desired. 

 Since I have mentioned the name of Buffon, I cannot help al- 



