BARON CUVIER. 127 



against the university; supported his opinion with much 

 warmth, and with all the talent he so eminently possessed. 

 M. Cuvier replied to him, and Napoleon who had listened to 

 both with the greatest attention, turned towards M. Regnault, 

 and said, "Je crois que vous etes atteint et convaincu 

 d'avoir tort," 6cc* This circumstance, and the reports made 

 by M. Cuvier after his return from Italy and Holland, led 

 the Emperor to appreciate his legislative talents, and to ap- 

 point him Maitre des Requetest in the Council of State, 

 His high opinion went still further ; for he ordered M. Cu- 

 vier to select a library for the use of the King of Rome in 

 his education. The list was made, and laid before Napo- 

 leon at the Thuilleries, when the expedition to Russia put 

 an end to all these projects. 



Raised to the rank of Counseller of Statet in 1814, M. 

 Cuvier's powers of defence were constantly called forth in 

 favour of the body of which he formed a part ; and not only 

 did he shield it from the attacks made upon it, but he was 

 often obhged to teach the very ministers the part it played 

 in the government, and the importance to themselves of 

 preserving this institution. The ministerial archives of 

 France contain many of his Memoirs on this subject, by 

 which he demonstrated the necessity of separating the judi- 

 cial from the administrative part of government, as ordered 

 by the Constituent Assembly; at the same time, that this 

 could not be effected without the creation of a Council of 

 State. The duties of this body are, to prepare laws, to ex- 

 amine ordonnances, and to decide whether the complaints 

 brought against the authorized agents of the government 

 require judicial proceedings. It is composed of enhghtened 

 men, who ofTer a better chance of impartiality than if they 

 themselves were attached to the offices filled by the offend- 

 ing parties. In a very few years after he was admitted to 



* I believe that you stand impeached and convicted of being wrong, &c. 



t The office of the Maitres des Requetes is, to examine all questions 

 about to be brought forward in the Council of State, to report upon them 

 to the Council, and to give their own opinions concerning the matter. 



I This appointment astonished several of those who were about the 

 Court, and one who was allowed to converse with Napoleon having asked 

 him why he called a savant to the Council of State, the Emperor replied, 

 " that he may be able to rest himself sometimes;" well knowing, that to a 

 man like M. Cuvier the best repose was a change of occupation. 



