BARON CUVIER. 141 



The loi de cumul (law against accumulation)* would 

 have deprived him, had it been enforced, of one-third of 

 his income ; but it was comtem plated by him with the ut- 

 most calmness, and, even at the moment when the en- 

 forcement appeared to be inevitable, he prepared himself to 

 continue in the performance of all his high functions in 

 the state, without the sHghtest pecuniary profit. His fami- 

 ly cheerfull}^ adopted his views, from the feeling that 

 these duties formed a variety of employment, which was a 

 relaxation to such a mind, and consequently beneficial to 

 his health. The loi de reductiont (law of reduction,) which 

 attacked all places, did take away a considerable part of his 

 revenue ; but this excited no other emotion than a regret 

 that it must curtail the exercise of that hospitality for which 

 he had so long been remarkable. 



A trifling circumstance happened during the latter part 

 of M. Cuvier's legislative duties, which, as it was errone- 

 ously supposed to have been connected with his death, may 

 as well be properly explained here. While defending that 

 incessant object of his aiixious cares, the University, before 

 the Chamber of Deputies, in his office of Commissaire du 

 Roi, his voice was much interrupted by a violent cough, 

 on which several of the members came to him, to beg that 

 he would go into the Salle des Conferences, and drink 

 some water : one of the deputies put M. Cuvier's arm 

 within his, and led him so fast, that his foot slipped down 

 a step, and he almost fell to the ground. The hand, 

 however, that had caused the mischief, supported him ; 

 but he was immediately surrounded by most of those in 

 the Chamber, who, evincing the deepest interest, obliged 

 him to seek some refreshment in the adjoining room. The 

 strongest proof that no malady had caused this appearance 

 of accident, is, that, ten minutes after, he mounted the 



* This law was to prevent any one man from benefiting by the sala- 

 ries attached to a number of places at one time ; and, in fact, was intend- 

 ed to prevent the holding of an accumulation of employments by any 

 one individual. 



t The loi de reduction was to lower the salaries of all those who held 

 public functions ; and, as M. Cuvier was charged with more than any 

 Jbody else, it, of course, made a great difterence in his annual receipts. 



