30 MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 



carried him through ; when once engaged, he be- 

 came enthusiastic, arid it now remains a memorial 

 of his abilities and perseverance. There was yet 

 another duty which devolved on M. Cuvier, in hin 

 office in the Institute, that of pronouncing an elo^e 

 upon the illustrious members after their decease, 

 a task at once melancholy and grateful melan- 

 choly in its recollections, that the companion in re- 

 search, perhaps the intimate friend at home, had 

 now passed from his earthly career but grateful in 

 the acquittal of a duty which was to place the la- 

 bours, and discoveries, and virtues, of a valued as- 

 sociate, among the records of science. These eloges 

 have been collected, and published in three volumes, 

 and form a useful and interesting companion to the 

 annual reports of the Institute *. 



In 1800, lie was appointed to another situation 

 in the Jardin, upon which he resigned the chair of 

 the Central School of the Pantheon. M. Dauben- 

 ton, the celebrated colleague of Button, died far ad- 

 vanced in years, and Cuvier was nominated his suc- 

 cessor. His time was now sufficiently occupied , 

 while the emoluments arising from the different of- 

 fices rendered him independent, and he sent for his 

 father and brother to reside with him. The former 

 meeting with a severe accident, was not long pre- 

 served to enjoy the still rising honours of his son ; 



* Recueil des Eloges historiques, his dans les seances 

 publiques de Tlnstitut Royai de France. In 3 vols. 8vo r 

 1827. 



