MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 21 



der solicitude of his parents succeeded in rearing 

 him to maturity, and the recollection of his mother's 

 anxieties made an indelible impression on his mind. 

 By her he was instructed in the rudiments of his 

 education, she assisted him in his Latin lessons, su- 

 perintended his geography and drawing, for hoth of 

 which he shewed an early predilection, and she in- 

 stilled into his young mind the principles of religion, 

 and resignation to the will of God, which he found 

 a source of so much consolation in the family be- 

 reavements to which he was afterwards subjected. 

 At the age of ten he was far advanced, and was 

 placed at the public gymnasium, where he remained 

 for four years, with great credit to himself and his 

 early preceptress, bearing off the palm in his classes, 

 and victory in his boyish sports and recreations. 



His taste for Natural History was at this time 

 shewn by his selection of books from the Gymna- 

 sium. A coloured copy of Gesner attracted his at- 

 tention, and was eagerly looked over ; and the glow- 

 ing pages of Buffon delighted his fancy, while the 

 plates made him familiar with a greater number of 

 animals than existed at that time in the collections 

 of his country. Little did he then imagine that one 

 day would see him filling the place of that illustrious 

 naturalist. Among his companions he had also in- 

 stituted a juvenile academy, in which he acted as pre- 

 sident, gave regulations, and dictated the work or 

 subject that was to be read or discussed, and con- 

 cluded the meeting with observations and his own 



