BARON CUVIER. 17 



more complete and methodical than the first two, and 

 were edited under the inspection of Dr. Duvernoy (another 

 of M. Cuvier's pupils,) in the year 1805, though the second, 

 notwithstanding its inaccuracies, was always considered by 

 M. Cuvier as the most interesting of the whole. 



But to return to the year 1800, when the celebrated col- 

 league of M. de Buffon died, at a very advanced age, M. 

 Cuvier was named professor in his place, at the College 

 de France, where he taught natural philosophy, at the 

 same time that he lectured on comparative anatomy at the 

 Jardin.* On succeeding to this chair he resigned that of 

 the central school of the Pantheon. Also in 1800, 

 Buonaparte, who, as First Consul, aspired to civil as well 

 as military glory, caused himself to be appointed president 

 of the Institute, and, in consequence, held direct commu- 

 nication with M. Cuvier. In 1802, he appointed him one 

 of the six inspectors-general ordered to establish Lyceest in 

 thirty towns of France. In this capacity M. Cuvier found- 

 ed those of Marseilles, Nice, and Bordeaux, which are now 



* An estimate of the pecuniary advantages then attending the career 

 of a savant, may be gathered from the following letter written by M . 

 Cuvier, in answer to one from the late M. Hermans. 



" My dear and learned confrere, (1800.) 



" You are not to suppose that Paris is so highly favoured ; for twelve 

 months pay are now due at the Jardin des Plantes, and all the national 

 establishments for public instruction, in Paris as well as at Strasburgh ; 

 and if we envy the elephants, it is not because they are better paid than 

 we are, but because, while living on credit, as we do, they are not aware 

 of it, and, consequently, are insensible to the pain it gives. You know 

 the saying about the French, that when they have no money they sing. 

 We savans, who are not musicians, work at our sciences instead of sing- 

 ing, which comes to the same thing. Believe me, my dear confrere, this 

 French philosophy is better than that of Wolff, or even that of Kant ; 

 and you are even more able to profit by it than we are, for you can still 

 purchase beautiful books, and even artificial anatomy, which are objects 

 of luxury in their way. I have not yet read Poli, and defer this study 

 till the time when I publish my anatomical history of animals with white 

 blood. There is, as yet, but one copy of it in Paris, as I am informed ; 

 and thus you see we offer nothing which can excite your envy." 



f Lycees are public schools, under the management and direction of 

 the government. The pupils who frequent them pay a small sum, which 

 sum is appropriated to the use of the school. The professors receive 

 their salaries from the government, which reserves to itself a right to no- 

 minate a certain number of pupils entirely gratis. The private schools 

 are always established near one of these Lyce'es, as the pupils are oblig- 

 ed to attend there for a certain number of hours every day. 



