28 MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 



liest members. Soon after, he was requested to ac- 

 company the memorable expedition to Egypt, as one 

 of the scientific attendants ; but he respectfully de- 

 clined the appointment, conscious that he could do 

 more for science at home, in examining the collec- 

 tions which were to be remitted, than by attempting 

 to study amidst the turmoil of camps and war. The 

 return of that expedition found him Secretary to the 

 Institute an annual office ; when Napoleon, as- 

 piring to every kind of glory, assumed the title of 

 President, and Cuvier was thus placed in immediate 

 contact with the First Consul. Napoleon early per- 

 ceived his worth and abilities, and, upon remodelling 

 the Colleges, and commencing the establishment of 

 schools in the different departments of France, called 

 in his assistance. This assistance he most willingly 

 gave, and, though new to the task, which was one 

 of great fatigue and difficulty, he performed it to the 

 satisfaction of his first as well as that of his subse- 

 quent employers, and successfully superintended the 

 establishment of the Lyceums of Marseilles and Bor- 

 deaux, which are now Royal Colleges. 



During his necessary absence from Pans upon 

 this mission, the Institute was re-organized, and Per- 

 petual Secretaries were appointed for the several 

 branches. M. Cuvier found himself elected to fill 

 that office in the Class of Natural Sciences, with a 

 salary of 6000 francs *. This office he held till his 



* When it was hinted to Napoleon that this sum was too 

 much, he replied, " The Perpetual Secretary must be en- 

 abled to receive at dinner all the learned foreigners who 



