MEMOIR OF CUVIER, *>o 



advancement of science, or the instruction of Lji 

 subjects; and they were rendered still more beLfc- 

 ficial, by the judicious manner in which they were 

 pei-formed. Honours were thus heaped upon him , 

 and in 1814, a still greater mark of confidence was 

 bestowed, in his appointment of " Counsellor of 

 State." 



We have now reached the period when the affairs 

 and prosperity of his great master and patron were to 

 assume a more chequered train ; and nothing places 

 the upright conduct of our naturalist, in all his political 

 and official transactions, so high, as his constantly 

 retaining, not only his civil appointments, but be- 

 ing sought to take a part in the councils of each 

 monarch, as in their turn they succeeded to a tem- 

 porary rule of France. From this it might perhaps 

 be alleged that he was variable in his opinions, and 

 wavered with the feelings of the times ; it was the 

 reverse. He was a firm supporter of order and 

 subordination, but he saw that, alone, he could do 

 little to stem the torrent of revolutionary principles, 

 and he hoped that his assistance and advice might pal- 

 iiate some of its attending miseries. His abilities were 

 widely known, and it was known also that he would 

 use them only and conscientiously for the good of 

 his country. Upon the first ejection of Napoleon, 

 Louis XVIIL continued him in his office of Coun- 

 sellor, which had the same year been conferred oii 

 him by the Emperor. The return of Napoleon froaa 

 Elba for a time banished him from the Court ; but 



