BARON CUVIER. 121 



t!ie seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries, the 

 number of authors multiplied to such a degree, that it was 

 impossible for him to do more than select the most impor- 

 tant, and he was obliged to divide science itself into several 

 branches, in order to be more easily comprehended. The 

 first branch thus noticed was anatomy, the progress of 

 which he traced to the middle of the seventeenth century. 

 lie in liis:e manner treated zoologyf and the travels which 

 threw light upon it. He then proceeded to botany, mine- 

 ralogy, and chemistry, bringing each down to the same 

 period. 



The discoveries of Galileo and Descartes were consider- 

 ed in the eleventh lecture of the second course, and the in- 

 fluence they and their writings shed over natural sciences. 

 To this influence may be attributed the formation of the 

 different academies of science, the history of which, toge- 

 ther w^ith that of the celebrated men who composed them 

 at their commencement,, formed a most interesting lecture. 

 Then, having proved by cited works and discoveries, that 

 the seventeenth century was the great era of science, and 

 having finished the history of this period in all its scienti- 

 fic bearings, M. Cuvier closed his second course by sum- 

 ming up all that had been said in an abridged form. 



The third course began with the eighteenth century, 

 which, like its predecessors, passed in review, though from 

 its importance and activity, it, in several instances, required 

 even more division into parts, and various features of it de- 

 manded especial notice. To Buffbn, for instance, M. Cu- 

 vier devoted two entire lectures, which at the time were 

 thought to be the most beautiful and eloquent he had ever 

 delivered. This third course was interrupted from the pre- 

 ceding Easter till the December following, when he re- 

 opened it for the purpose gf continuing his history from 

 the time of Bufi()n. He first gave a clear and eloquent 

 resume of the philosophy of Kant, of Fichte, and of Schel- 

 ling ; and one day in every week was set apart by him, 

 notwithstanding his increased duties as a peer of France, 

 for the continuation of this immense undertaking. The 

 interval of repose which followed, and which was absolute- 

 ly necessary for his health, was prolonged much beyond 

 his calculation by the dreadful visitation of the cholera ; 



L 



