132 EMINENT NATURALISTS. 



seized, and the power of swallowing was lost, all his 

 mental faculties and the power of speech remaining 

 unaffected. He was perfectly calm and resigned. 



Four hours before he died he was carried ^t his own 

 request into a cabinet where the happiest and proudest 

 moments of his life had been spent, and where he 

 wished to draw his last breath. 



" Four hours before his death," says Baron Pasquier, 

 in his Eloge, " I was in that memorable cabinet. His 

 countenance was in a state of perfect repose, and never 

 did his noble head appear to me more beautiful, or 

 worthy of admiration. No alterations of a too sensible 

 or painful kind had yet taken place, only a little 

 weakness and difficulty in supporting himself were 

 observable. 



" I held the hand which he extended to me, while he 

 said, in a voice scarcely articulate, ' You see what a 

 difference there is between the man of Tuesday' (we 

 met on that day) ' and the man of Sunday ; yet so 

 many things remain to be done ! ' I made an effort to 

 find words to express to him the general interest which 

 he excited. ' I love to believe it/ he replied, ' I have 

 long endeavoured to render myself worthy of it.' 



At nine o'clock on the evening of the 13th May, 

 1832, he had ceased to live, having reached only the 

 age of 62, although belonging to a family remarkable 

 for longevity. 



At his own desire, Cuvier was buried in the cemetery 

 of Pere la Chaise, beneath the tombstone which covered 

 the remains of his daughter. His funeral obsequies 

 were attended by men of all ranks and opinions, who, 



