MEMOIR OF CUVIER. 15 



ployments occupied much time ; but he acquired informa- 

 tion in his journeys, unconnected with the establishments 

 of instruction. 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, and the bigotry 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 showed to every belief, where it 

 was conscientiously exercised, oftentimes softened the pre- 

 judices 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 in- 

 stances, they were continued after the restoration of their 

 former sovereigns. 



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 being sought to take a part in 

 the councils of each monarch, as in their turn they suc- 

 ceeded to a temporary rule in France. From this it 

 might perhaps be alleged, that he was variable in his opin- 

 ions, and wavered with the feelings of the times ; it was 

 the reverse. He was a firm supporter of order and subor- 

 dination, 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 palliate some of its 

 attending miseries. His abilities were widely known, and 

 it was known also that he would use them only and con- 

 scientiously for the good of his country. Upon the first 

 ejection of Napoleon, Louis XVIII, continued him in his 

 office of Counsellor, which had the same year been con- 

 ferred on him by the Emperor. The return of Napoleon 

 from Elba, for a time banished him from the Court ; but 

 he was retained in the Universities, and was consulted 



