M. Frederic Cuvier. 13 



be credited, that lie never thought of his own glory, hut was 

 enthusiastic for his brother's. It was for this brother that he 

 lived, and for him he became a naturalist. It was an inte- 

 resting spectacle, and never failed to inspire general respect ; 

 on his part it was so complete and devoted, that of all the re- 

 collections which the name of M. F. Cuvier awakens, it is still 

 perhaps the most prominent. 



M. F. Cuvier was appointed, on the 24th of December 1837, 

 Professor of the Museum of Natural History. The Chair to 

 which he was called had just been instituted, and it was in- 

 stituted for him. M. de Salvandy, at that time Minister of 

 Public Instruction, thus nobly repaid, by a useful appointment, 

 the debt which the Museum and Science had incurred. 



But it was also at that very moment, at the time that he 

 was finally about to engage in that duty which had always 

 been the most cherished of his heart, viz. to teach the science 

 which he had founded, and to which he had devoted his life, 

 that he was attacked with that frightful malady by which he 

 was cut off. He died at Strasburg on the 24th of July 1838. 

 He was engaged, with his accustomed zeal, in the inspection 

 of the colleges of that city, when, on the evening of the 19th, 

 he felt the first stroke of that dreadful malady, which, four 

 days afterwards, closed his eyes on all below. 



It has been remarked, that there was a striking analogy be- 

 tween his malady and that of his illustrious brother. These 

 two men, who had been so closely united, and so seldom se- 

 parated, died at the same age, of the same disease, and with 

 the same serenity of mind and intrepidity of soul. It Avas thus 

 that M. F. Cuvier carefully marked, as his brother had done, 

 the successive steps of his malady ; he foresaw and announced 

 them ; he preserved in the solemn act of dying all his pene- 

 tration as an observer, and all his fortitude as a man. 



His <on rpiitted Paris on the first intimation of his malady, 

 but on liis arrival at Strasburg, M. F. Cuvier had expired. 

 He died in the arms of M. Dutrey, his fellow-traveller and 

 colleague as Inspector, and of M. Duvernoy, bis friend through- 

 out life. 



His last words were these, — " Let my son inscribe upon 

 my tomb, — Frederic Cuvier, brother of George Cuvier." 



