32 MEMOIRS OF 



each being play its part in nature, acting on all that sur- 

 rounds it, and contributing to form that whole in our 

 planet, which excites the wonder and admiration of all 

 inquirers ; a whole which, perhaps, takes its station in 

 the parts of a still wider expanse, into which we cannot 

 penetrate. " All is linked together," said M. Cuvier, 

 speaking of creation, "all is dependent, all existence is 

 chained to other existence, and that chain which connects 

 them, and of which we can only see some compara- 

 tively insignificant portions, is infinite in extent, space, and 

 time." He believed that all things in this world were 

 made for some express purpose ; he believed that all was 

 due to one Supreme Intelligence, which had provided or- 

 gans for fulfilling the ends for which all things were creat- 

 ed. His method resembled that of Aristotle, Bacon, and 

 Newton, for it was that of observation and experience, and, 

 like them, he felt that no general formula could be founded, 

 no general principle could be established, without a vast as- 

 semblage of facts. He not only rejected all theories which 

 were not thus founded, from a conviction that they led the 

 mind astray from real observation, but he carefully abstain- 

 ed from encouraging any system which resulted from the 

 discovery of only a small number of facts ; believing that 

 systems so based led their followers solely to study those 

 facts which were favourable to their own peculiar views. 



These were the broad principles which M. Cuvier ap- 

 plied to every branch of human knowledge ; for, like the 

 Greek philosopher, he was not ignorant of any thing, not 

 even excepting the mathematical sciences, of which he 

 understood the foundation and machinery as if he had 

 studied them in the character of a professor. That same 

 intelligence, also, which comprehended the form and or- 

 ganization of the beings of the present and former world, 

 had penetrated into the organization of political bodies, 

 and perfectly appreciated their springs of action, their 

 strength, and their weaknesses. Thus gifted, thus in- 

 structed, M. Cuvier unconsciously became a central point, 

 round which the scientific and learned of every class 

 sooner or later rallied. He was the kind and equitable ora- 

 cle of savans of all countries ; for, wholly divested of na- 

 tional prejudices, and delighting to dwell on that which 



