1 90 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



tablished his health and gave him plenty of oppor- 

 tunity of visiting museums. While at Hamburg, 

 Napoleon gave him the title of chevalier, which 

 was confirmed to him and his heirs. But such 

 honours were not destined to descend, for Cuvier 

 lost his son in his seventh year. It was a great 

 grief, and it saddened and subdued the man. This 

 trial happened when Cuvier was at Rome, trying 

 to arrange the universities there. Being a Pro- 

 testant, the mission was one requiring peculiar 

 forbearance and firmness. Yet the enlightened 

 tolerance of Cuvier, and his mild and benignant 

 manners, gained for him the esteem and respect of 

 all parties. Risen from the ranks, having been poor 

 and often anxious to know how to learn, Cuvier 

 was a capital man for his position. He paid par- 

 ticular attention not only to the higher branches 

 of education, but also to popular or elementary 

 education. His principle was that instruction would 

 lead to civilization, and civilization to morality, 

 and therefore that primary or elementary instruc- 

 tion should give to the people every means of 

 fully exercising their industry, without disgusting 

 them with their condition. That secondary in- 

 struction should expand the mind, without render- 

 ing it false or presumptuous ; and that special or 

 scientific instruction should give to France magis- 

 trates, advocates, generals, clergy, professors and 

 other men of learning. He taught — " give schools 

 before political rights ; make citizens comprehend 

 the duties that the state of society imposes on 



