126 MEMOIRS OF 



thing like progress; and what ne demanded was, that 

 every attempted improvement should be the result of deep 

 thought, calm discussion, and vigorous search after the ne- 

 cessity of its taking place. He felt that the passion for in- 

 novations of all kinds, which characterized the times in 

 which he lived, produced a constant change of systems. 

 which was calculated rather to destroy than to improve, and, 

 consequently, his actions and counsels were conservative- 

 yet progressive. '-He w^as always the mediator between 

 the time passed and the time to come — between France 

 and other nations ; he resisted the antipathy of his country- 

 men against those whom they chose to call barbarous : and 

 with his whole force always tried to stem the torrent which 

 their vanity and versatility occasionally poured over that 

 which was wise and useful." 



It has frequently been remarked, with great bitterness, 

 that M. Cuvier held more places than any man had a right 

 to monopolize. The best answer to this attack is, the man- 

 ner in which he fulfilled the duties attached to them ; a fact 

 easily ascertained now they have passed into other hands, 

 though his career alone can show, how the income of the 

 statesman furnished the savant with the means of carrying 

 on his labours ; how the counsellor of his sovereign protect- 

 ed the naturalist ; and how '• the new Aristotle became \m 

 own Alexander." 



It would be difficult to decide in which part of his public 

 life Baron Cuvier's talents were most pre-eminent : the 

 affairs of the University alone w^ould have sufficed for most 

 men; for not only were the letters, notes, and remarks 

 which proceeded from his pen in this service innumerable, 

 but, besides these every-day labours, of which the heads of 

 the departments only can form a just calculation, he wrote a 

 mass of Memoirs and Reports, either to enable the directing 

 ministry to comprehend the nature of this institution, or to 

 furnish them with arguments for its defence against its 

 many enemies. Appointed to be one of the members of the 

 Council of the University (1808,) he soon attracted the no- 

 tice of the Grand Master, Fontanes, who named him Com- 

 missaire of a discussion about to take place in the Council of 

 State in the presence of Napoleon, respecting the Imperial 

 University. M. Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely, who spoke. 



