PART IV. 



the first part of this volume, I have by a narrative of 

 the principal events of the Baron Cuvier's life, endeavour-' 

 ed to show his progress towards fame and honour, and to 

 expose the circumstances which tended to the perfection of 

 ane of Nature's noblest productions. In the second, I 

 have, notwithstanding the difficulties of such a task, and 

 a. strong feeling of my own weakness, tried to give an out- 



ne of M. Cuvier's principal works, of his most important 

 iscoveries, and the immense advantages that science has 

 erived from each. In the third, I have studied to lay 

 efore the reader all the good he effected, and all the evil he 

 revented during his administrative career ; and, by so do- 

 ng, I have set forth all his titles to the grateful admiration 

 mankind. I am now about to attempt a more particu- 

 ar description of the character, the private virtues, and do- 

 mestic habits of the great man, whom I have so often ad- 

 nired in the midst of his family, surrounded by friends, 

 nd performing the honours of his house to a numerous 



rcle. composed of men of all countries and professions. 

 !ut before I enter into these details, I feel called on to refute, 

 y a reference to known facts, those accusations which 

 ave.but too often been brought against him. Men rarely 

 ardon superiority, even when (as in M. Cuvier) it is ex- 

 mpt from all kinds of vanity ; still more rarely do they 

 ardon those acquisitions of rank and fortune which ne- 

 essarily result from this superiority ; and the great number 



places held by M. Cuvier, caused him to be accused of an 

 mbition for power, by those who reckoned his employ- 

 nents, without reckoning his merits, or without recognizing 

 ow useful his talents were to France. 



In order to set aside this unjust charge, it will be suffi- 

 ent, here, to recall some of the occurrences scattered 

 irough these pages ; and which lead me to affirm, that, 



far from having sought or solicited places, he nobly re- 



