CUVIER. 141 



up annual reports on the progress of the natural and 

 physical sciences; and it was as perpetual secretary that 

 he prepared his famous ' Rapport historique sur le Progres 

 des Sciences physiques depuis 1789,' which was published 

 in 1810. 



The last twenty years of Cuvier's life were spent under 

 a burden of intellectual labour such as few men could 

 have borne. Not only was his activity as a teacher and as 

 an investigator unabated, but he had now various high 

 administrative posts placed in his hands, the duties of 

 which were both numerous and heavy. He was now, 

 by universal consent, the first of living naturalists, and 

 the scientific honours which were conferred on him are 

 too numerous to mention. He also now became a high 

 state official. Before the fall of Napoleon (1814), he was 

 admitted to the council of state; and Louis XVIII. 

 confirmed him in this office on being restored to the 

 throne of France. In the same year he was elected 

 Chancellor of the University of Paris, and later, he 

 was appointed Grand Master of the Faculties of Protestant 

 Theology, he being himself a Lutheran. In 1819 he 

 was appointed President of the Comite de 1'Interieur. In 

 1824, he was made Grand Officer of the Legion d'Hon- 

 neur; and in the beginning of 1832 he was raised by 

 Louis Philippe to the rank of peer of France, and subse- 

 quently nominated President of the entire Council of 

 State. On the 8th of May he lectured, as it proved for 

 the last time, at the College of France, but he was there- 

 after attacked by an illness, which commenced in paralysis 

 of the throat, and ultimately affected the respiratory organs. 

 Remedial measures proved of no avail, and on the i3th of 



