CUVIER. 203 



prehensive, was the diction ; and he treated the 

 subject in a manner which proved that he had been 

 thinking much about the mysterious and super- 

 natural environment which most men of great ex- 

 perience can recognize in nature. Cuvier in this 

 lecture dealt with the meaning of the changes 

 which had occurred on the surface of the earth in 

 relation to the succession of animals and plants 

 on the globe and the present creation. He stated 

 the manner in which he proposed to view ^the 

 present in relation to the past, a task which was to 

 lead his hearers, independently of narrow systems, 

 back to that supreme intelligence which rules, 

 enlightens, and vivifies, and which gives to every 

 creature the especial conditions of its existence. 

 He noticed how each being contains in itself an 

 infinite variety, an admirable arrangement for the 

 purposes for which it was intended : that each 

 being is good, perfect, and capable of life, accord- 

 ing to its order and species, and in its individuality. 

 He concluded by saying, "These will be the objects 

 of our future investigations, if time, health, and 

 strength are given to me to continue and to finish 

 them with you." The lecture hall was slowly left 

 by Cuvier's hearers and students, and an unde- 

 fined sadness seemed to weigh upon his late 

 hearers, who seemed to linger with the impression 

 that his days were numbered. On the evening of 

 the same day, Cuvier felt some pain in his right 

 arm, which was supposed to proceed from rheu- 

 matism. The next morning he presided over the 



