CUVIER. 12!) 



able impressions which this visit had given him of 

 England and her institutions, has been recorded in 

 his Eloge of Sir Joseph Banks, where, without any 

 feeling of jealousy, he bears a just and noble testi- 

 mony to our national greatness. 



In 1818, before Cuvier had quitted England, he 

 was elected a member of the Academie Francaise, on 

 which occasion he delivered a discourse of extreme 

 beauty and elegance. In the following year he was 

 made President of the Comite de l'lnterieur, and 

 created a baronet. In 1822 his appointment to the 

 office of Grand Master of all the Faculties of 

 Protestant Theology was made. In 1824 as presi- 

 dent of one of the Councils of State, he took part 

 in the coronation of Charles X., on which occasion 

 he was made Grand Master of the Legion of Honour 

 and Commander of the Order of Crown by the 

 King of AVurtemburg. In 1827 he was appointed 

 Censor of the Press, but the office was so odious to 

 his feelings that he instantly and firmly refused it, 

 although at the risk of losing all his other offices by 

 so doing. Charles X. exhibited some displeasure on 

 this occasion; but afterwards gave further proof of 

 confidence in him by charging him with the adminis- 

 tration of all the non-Catholic religions in Franoe. 



Sacrificing everything to the interests of science. 

 Cuvier formed a vast library, and permitted naturalists 

 who sought the privilege, to go and work in it as 

 in a public library. No mean spirit of jealousy of 

 the discoveries of others ever displayed any power 

 over the spirit of this extraordinary man ; on the 



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