BARON CUVIER. 53 



.f his talents are scattered through the work of which I am 

 low speaking, but are more particularly contained in the 

 hird volume of the last edition.* This edition consists of 

 ive quarto volumes, two of which are divided into two 

 jarts ; and among the numerous lights thrown upon living 

 jbjects, and on the construction of the earth, we find the 

 resurrection of numerous species of mammalia, birds, rep- 

 tiles, &c., making in all 168 vertebrated animals, which 

 form 50 genera, and of which fifteen are new. They have 

 been named by M. Cuvier, placed by him in the range of 

 created beings, and belong to every order except duadru- 

 mana, of which, as well as the human race, not a single relic 



* Had I no motive of friendship and esteem to induce me to make 

 known the merits of M. Laurillard, the secretary of M. Cuvier, it would be 

 but justice tojnention him here, as one who was associated with his patron 

 in these and all succeeding labours, and who proved that the great anato- 

 mist carried his discrimination even into the mental organization of hu- 

 manity. The manner in which this association was formed is too interest- 

 ing to'be passed over in silence. M. Laurillard, also from Montbeliard, 

 left his native place in order to cultivate his talents for design in the capi- 

 tal, with a view of becoming professional. He was there introduced to 

 M. Frederic Cuvier, for whom he executed some drawings. He also made 

 one or two for M. Cuvier, without particularly attracting his notice. One 

 day, however, M. Cuvier came to his brother to ask him to disengage a Ibs- 

 sil from its surrounding mass, an office he had frequently performed. M. 

 Laurillard was the only person to be found on the spot, and to him M. 

 Cuvier applied in the absence of his brother. Little aware of the value 

 of the specimen confided to his care, he cheerfully set to work, and suc- 

 ceeded m getting the bone entire from its position. M. Cuvier, after a 

 short time, returned for his treasure, and when he saw how perfect it 

 was, his ecstacies became incontrollable ; he danced, he shook his hands, 

 he uttered expressions of delight, till M. Laurillard, in his ignorance both 

 of the importance of what he had done, and of the ardent character of M. 

 Cuvier, thought he was mad. Taking however his fossil foot in one hand, 

 and dragging M. Laurillard's arm with the other, he led him up-stairs to 

 present him to his wife and sister-in-law, saying, " 1 have got my foot, and 

 M. Laurillard found it for me." It seems, that this skilful operation con- 

 firmed all M. Cuvier's previous conjectures concerning a foot, the existence 

 and form of which he had already guessed, but for which he had long and 

 vainly sought. So occupied had he been by it, that when he appeared to 

 be particularly absent, his family were wont to accuse him of seeking his 

 fore foot. The next morning the able operator and draftsman was engaged 

 as secretary ; and M. Cuvier not only attached to himself a powerful co- 

 adjutor, but an affectionate and faithful friend, devoted to him during life, 

 and now finding his greatest happiness in doing and saying that which he 

 thinks will most honour the memory of one so loved and revered. He is 

 appointed, by the will of M. Cuvier, to finish and publish all the drawings 

 they had made together for the great work, which he called the " Grande 

 Anatomie cotnparee," and most fervently must all followers of the sci- 

 ence wish for its appearance. 



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