T92 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



the result of his careful examination of the living 

 species of the genera or families which were found 

 fossil. We owe to Cuvier the truth that ancient 

 forms of life, the bones and teeth of which alone 

 remain, and which were buried by nature formerly, 

 can be " restored." That is to say, by taking the 

 existing or modern example, and by reasoning 

 upon the nature of the teeth, claws, hoofs, and 

 horns present or absent, the nature, shape and 

 destiny of the ancient animal can be given to the 

 world at the present time. 



After the abdication of Napoleon and the defeat 

 at Waterloo, it became necessary, in the ideas of 

 Louis XVI 1 1., that the universities should be re- 

 modelled, and a committee of public instruction was 

 created to exercise the powers formerly belonging 

 to the grand master, the council, and the treasurer 

 of the University. Cuvier was one of the com- 

 mittee, and was made chancellor of the University, 

 a position which he retained until his death under 

 most trying circumstances. No man did greater 

 or better and more lasting work for state education 

 than Cuvier. His heart was in the work of edu- 

 cation ; he had nothing but mental progress to 

 desire ; and it was a much more satisfactory thing 

 for France to have a renowned, scientific man at 

 the head of a great university, who, moreover, 

 really controlled the education of the country, than 

 to have had such important offices held by mere 

 politicians and soldiers. 



In 1 8 17 Cuvier published a second edition of his 



