MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 9 



Prince Charles of Wurtemberg, being on a visit to 

 Montbeliard, beard from his sister high encomiums of the 

 abilities of Cuvier; he sent for him, and pleased with his 

 answers and performances, resolved to enrol him in the 

 University of Stutgard at his own expense, and to place 

 him in the Academy Caroline. At the age of fourteen, Cu- 

 vier, for the first time, left his home and mother's care, 

 and never, writes Mrs. Lee, did he forget the three days 

 journey from Montbeliard to Stutgard. " He was seated 

 between the chamberlain and secretary of the Duke, both 

 entirely unknown to him, and who spoke nothing but Ger- 

 man the whole way, of which the poor child could not un- 

 derstand one word." On the 4th of May he entered the 

 academy, and nine months after, bore off the prize for the 

 German language from four or five hundred students. 



His progress in the other branches corresponded, and he 

 successfully devoted himself to the study of administra- 

 tion, which embraced the various branches of law and fi- 

 nance, as well as agriculture, and some departments of 

 mechanics. The hours of relaxation were employed in 

 the more direct study of Nature, in perusing the works of' 

 some of his illustrious predecessors, in making drawings, 

 and in the formation of a herbarium of the plants growing 

 in the neighborhood. In these pursuits he found a willing 

 assistant in one of his teachers, M. Abbe, professor of Na- 

 tural History, who perceived his abilities and loved to en- 

 courage them. At this Academy he finished his career 

 with as great honors as at Montbeliard, carrying off the 

 highest prizes, and, with one or two others of deserving 

 abilities, having an order of Chivalry conferred upon him. 



Cuvier had now completed what is generally called edu- 

 cation. He, however, daily studied with increasing perse- 

 ranee, and during his whole life never willingly lost an 

 opportunity of acquiring what he previously did not know. 

 Upon leaving the Academy Caroline, it had been intended 

 that he should enter some branch of the administration, to 



