CUVIER. 195 



In 1824, as president of the Comite, or one of 

 the councils of state, Ciivier took part in the coro- 

 nation of Charles X., on which occasion he was 

 made grand master of the Legion of Honour. In 

 1827 he was appointed censor of the press, an 

 office which his love of liberty of thought soon 

 made him resign. Sacrificing all his leisure to 

 the greater educational matters, and ever labouring 

 at science, Cuvier also formed a great library, 

 which was always open to naturalists who desired 

 to visit and use it. Cuvier's orderly and critical 

 mind enabled him to fulfil the office of secretary to 

 the institute with great success ; and he especially 

 shone in writing the interesting lives of the dis- 

 tinguished men who died during each year. More- 

 over, he reported on each memoir which was sub- 

 mitted to the institute for reading and publication. 

 Cuvier was great as a public lecturer, and had a 

 flexible and sonorous voice, which resounded far 

 and wide in the room. His audiences were always 

 enthusiastic ; and many a student waited long to 

 get a good seat before the professor began. He 

 taught, chalk in hand, and drew well on the black 

 board, his artistic power remaining to the last. 



Cuvier came to England a second time, and it is 

 tolerably clear that it was to escape the inevitable 

 revolution which was caused by the tyranny of 

 Charles X. and his advisers. His carriage passed 

 out of Paris, and five hours afterwards firing began, 

 which led to the dethronement of the king and the 

 restoration of liberty. In London Cuvier used to 



