74 BARON CUVIEE. 



Six years later one of her sons was assassinated 

 in Portugal, during the retreat of the French army. 

 Another, while collecting for the Museum of Paris, 

 died in Madras, a young man of great talent and 

 much beloved. A daughter, Mile. Duvaucel, lived 

 to be the comfort of Cuvier's declining years. 



Happy in his home and absorbed with his work, 

 Cuvier went forward to new labors and new 

 honors. M. Mertrud had died, and, instead of 

 being assistant at the Jardin des Plantes, Cuvier 

 was now professor. In 1808 Napoleon made him 

 counsellor for life of the Imperial University. 

 The next year he organized new academies in 

 the Italian States, which were now annexed to 

 France. In 1811 he was sent on a similar mission 

 to Holland and the Hanseatic towns, and was 

 made a chevalier, which rank was assured to his 

 heirs. Though he disliked to be absent from his 

 family, he went where duty called him, and wrote 

 back fond letters to his wife. 



" MY TENDER FRIEND, The weather, the road, 

 the horses, and the postilions have proved so excel- 

 lent that we have reached Porte Sainte Mayence 

 before six o'clock; and I have bitterly regretted 

 the two or three good hours that I might still 

 have passed with thee, without in the least de- 

 laying my journey. At least believe that I have 

 passed them in my imagination, and that the 

 remembrance of thy caresses and tender friend- 

 ship will form the happiness of my whole way." 

 After some words to the children, he added, 



