20 MEMOIRS OF 



his attention in all countries, and were to him an unceas- 

 ing theme of meditation. 



While at Hamburgh, M. Cuvier received the unsolicited 

 title of Chevalier from the Emperor, which rank was assur- 

 ed to his heirs. However, the hope of transmitting his 

 worldly honours to his posterity was soon to be destroyed ; 

 for, after being deprived of adaughter, four years old, in 1812, 

 he was, in 1813, bereaved of his son, who was seven years 

 of age. This last loss made a deep impression on him, 

 which was never entirely effaced ; and even after the lapse 

 of years he never saw a boy of that age without conside- 

 rable emotion, a feeling which he did not strive to hide 

 from his own family, or those with whom he was intimate ; 

 and often, when walking with his daughters, he would 

 stop before a group of boys, who, as they played, reminded 

 him of his child.* This misfortune happened while M. 

 Cuvier was fulfilling a mission at Rome, for the purpose of 

 organizing the university there. It was remarkable enough, 

 that a Protestant should hold this office in the metropolis 

 of the Papal dominions, but the moderation and benignity 

 of M. Cuvier knew how to soften inconsistencies ; his tole- 

 rance for all sincere doctrines of religion proceeded from 

 conscientious motives, and therefore he was not likely to 

 revolt the creed of those among whom he mingled. While 

 thus employed at Rome, Napoleon, from his own personal 

 feeling, appointed him Maitre des Requetes in the Council 

 of State, of which honour he was first informed by the 

 Moniteur. The contact into which he was constantly 

 brought with the Emperor, in his office of Counselor to the 

 University, the intimate knowledge which his sovereign had 

 thus acquired of his administrative talents, united to the 

 favourable representations of the Grand Master, Fontanes, 

 were supposed to be the causes of this marked distinction. 

 Towards the end of this year (1813) he was further em- 

 ployed by Napoleon, in a manner that showed the estimate 

 he had made of his character. He appointed him Com- 



* So late as 1830, when M. Cuvier visited this country, I took my son 

 to see him at the hotel where he was staying, forgetting the effect it was 

 likely to produce ; and I shall for ever remember the pause he made before 

 him, and the melancholy tenderness with which he laid his hand on the 

 head of the boy. 



