4 INTRODUCTION. 



Most of those ^\ho were either anxious to inquire of nie 

 concerning the surviving family, or who w^ere kindly soli- 

 citous about myself under such a calamity, seemed to think 

 it a matter of course that I should publish some particular- 

 of my lost friend ; but although this certainly suggested the 

 possibility of doing so, I still felt my ow^n inadequacy too 

 deepl}^ to do other than refuse the undertaking. In a few 

 v.eeksj however. I was solicited in one or two inllueiitial 

 quarters to write a short memoir for one of our public jour- 

 nals, and afraid to trust solely to my own reminiscences, 1 

 applied to the relatives of Baron Cuvier for data. These 

 data w^ere contributed with a readiness which vouched for 

 the sentiments of the femily, and I seriously applied to the 

 task. Recollection crowded upon recollection, anecdote 

 upon anecdote, till, in a short time, it became very difficult 

 to select from the mass. Long did I hesitate from the con- 

 viction of my own inability ; but the universal desire ex- 

 pressed to nie that I should publish the documents which 

 abundantly flowed from the best sources, and the anxiety 

 evinced to know^ something of the private character and 

 domestic habits of the great man, seemed to point out that 

 part of his career which alone I w^as w^oithy to describe. 

 Reflection whispered, that I was able to correct the many 

 errors afloat ; that, perhaps, I was the only one in England, 

 who, from having been received into the bosom of his 

 family, could personally speak of various circumstances and 

 events ; and when I thought of all the afiTection and kind- 

 ness I had received, I began to feel that there would be a 

 degree of ingratitude in remaining silent, and determined 

 that I would, independent of all other publications, attempt 

 to lay open to the English w-orld the noblest part of the 

 gifted individual — his heart. 



Such is the chief purport of the present biography : the 

 labours of M. Cuvier speak for his wonderful mind ; and 

 time alone can show, to its full extent, the influence of that 

 mind upon science. To time also must we look for an im- 

 partial opinion upon his political career ; but it is only for 

 those who have lived with him to do justice to his high 

 moral virtues ; and in the hope that this little volume may 

 serve, when I have followed the illustrious subject of it to 





