BARON CUVIER. 155 



room where I vvas sitting, when decked in all the parapher- 

 nalia for a grand meeting. The long, flowing gown of 

 rich, violet-coloured velvet, bordered with ermine, added to 

 his height, and concealed the corpulence of his figure ; the 

 cap, of the same materials, could not confine his curls ; and, 

 brilliant with his ribands and his orders, the outward ap- 

 pearance fully accorded with the internal man. His refined 

 taste was often manifested in the buildings of the Jardin, 

 made according to his direction, and was extended to the 

 minutest details. The menagerie for the wild beasts is classi- 

 cally beautiful, and was built entirely after his designs and 

 under his inspection, while he held the annual ofl[ice of di- 

 rector. The new wing of the Museum, which joins the 

 Corps de Garde, was also added by his orders during one ol 

 these directorships. 



The manners of M. Cuvier, by their dignity, resembled 

 the ancient deportment of French people, divested of its 

 extreme ceremony ; for, accustomed to mingle with the 

 highest of all classes and countries, and naturally desirous 

 of paying a just tribute of respect and good- will to every 

 body, he was likely to be generally polished and courteous, 

 though in company, at the houses of others, sometimes 

 stately. That stateliness was often deemed stiffness ; and 

 it must not be denied that real stiffness was assumed on 

 some rare but necessary occasions. Frequently, however. 

 I believe that it arose from timidity ; for it wore off the in- 

 stant he saw any one incUned to lay aside the restraint which 

 his presence very often, and most needlessly, imposed. On 

 the contrary, when he saw people afraid of him, he fancied he 

 must have caused it by something on his side ; and thus a 

 counter-reserve was produced, that seldom ceased with either 

 party. To the young, however, he was universally encour- 

 aging, and they could not more entirely win his heart than 

 by talking, in his presence in their naturally open manner. 

 Towards females he was particularly kind and attentive, 

 distinguishing all whom he thought worthy of more than 

 the general respect he paid to the sex, even appealing to 

 them on various occasions, delighting in their sensible re- 

 marks, and listening to their anecdotes with the greatest in- 

 terest. His attentions to his guests, either when visitors for 

 a few hours or a few weeks, were surprisingly thoughtful ; 



