52 MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 



of Academies in those parts of the Italian provinces 

 which had been annexed to the French empire. He 

 was also ordered upon a similar mission to Holland ; 

 and in the year following went to Rome, to organize 

 a University there. These employments occupied 

 much time ; but he acquired information in his jour- 

 neys, unconnected with the establishments of instruc- 

 tion. The most difficult part of his task was that 

 which related to the Italian towns, and the University 

 in Rome : M. Cuvier was a Protestant, arid the bi- 

 gotry of the schools in Italy threw as many obstacles 

 as they durst in the face of any encroachment upon 

 their own methods ; but the respect which he shewed 

 to every belief, where it was conscientiously exer- 

 cised, oftentimes softened the prejudices which were 

 held against him, and, by adapting his arrangements 

 to the real necessities of the different towns, he 

 completed his business so perfectly, that, in many 

 instances, they were continued after the restora- 

 tion of their former sovereigns. 



During his absence upon these missions, the Em- 

 peror shewed him another mark of his approbation, 

 And appointed him " Maitre de Requetes." Napo- 

 leon was too good a judge of mankind not to have 

 observed the abilities of Cuvier. He had discerned 

 them from the first, and it was part of his policy 

 never to lose sight of a talented individual, so long 

 as he could be of use in his extensive designs. For- 

 tunately, the purposes for which he wished to em- 

 ploy M. Cuvier were all honourable, either for the 



