BARON CUVIER. 27 



The year 1830 saw the Baron Cuvier again in the lec- 

 turing chair at the College de France, where he opened a 

 course on the History and Progress of Science in all Ages, 

 and which was continued till the close of his earthly labours. 

 In the same year he paid a second visit to England, and 

 happened to be in London when the last revolution in 

 France took place. He had long contemplated this visit, 

 being desirous of personally inspecting some of the scien- 

 tific treasures of this country ; but a long delay (even after 

 his conge was obtained) took place, owing to the death of 

 the learned Baron Fourrier, the other secretar}^ to the Aca- 

 demic des Sciences, whose duties fell on M. Cuvier till a 

 successor could be appointed. On the publication of the 

 famous ordonnances of Charles X. and his ministers, a 

 universal silence in public was observed, as if the first per- 

 son who ventured to talk about them, was to set fire to a 

 train of gunpowder. Even M. Cuvier, though so clear- 

 sighted on other occasions, was completely taken by surprise 

 in this instance, and partook of the general opinion, that 

 '• this stroke of policy on the part of the state would lead 

 to a lengthened resistance of taxes, and to partial distur- 

 bances, but not to any violent crisis ;" and deceived, as so 

 many others were, by the profound tranquillity which reign- 

 ed in every part of the capital, he started for England on 

 the appointed day. Five hours after his carriage had pass- 

 ed the barrier, the firing commenced in Paris, and he and 

 his daughter-in-law quietly pursued their route by easy sta- 

 ges. They were overtaken on the road near Boulogne by 

 tlie flying English, who gave them vague reports, and they 

 pressed on to meet their letters at Calais. There, after two 

 days of the deepest anxiety, during which time they formed 

 twenty projects for immediate return, and were as often re- 

 tained by the certainty of not being able to re-enter Paris, 

 or even proceed on the road back, with passports dated in 

 the month of May, and leave of absence signed by the 

 hand of Charles X., they at once received the details of the 

 Revolution, and of the restoration to peace. The power of 

 asking leave of absence, under such an accumulation of 

 duties as M. Cuvier's, was so rare, his time was so precious 

 to himself, and the assurances of perfect tranquillity in Paris, 

 combined with the safety of those whom they loved, were 



