BARON CUVIER. 163 



his reply would be, — " Do not scold me, I will not buy so 

 many books this year." Many anecdotes have been told 

 me of his purse being made a resource, not only for the 

 advantage of science, but for those who had fled to France 

 to avoid ruin in their own country ; but even my anxiety 

 to make known all M. Cuvier's good qualities ought not to 

 interfere with the sacredness of private misfortune. In his 

 endeavours to do good, he was always most ably seconded 

 by the females of his family, whose active benevolence has 

 called upon them many a blessing from the hearts they 

 have cheered by their kindness and bounty. 



A very remarkable and a very prominent feature in M. 

 Cuvier's character, was a decided aversion to ridicule or se- 

 verity when speaking of others ; he not only wholly abstain- 

 ed from satire himself, but wholly discouraged it in those 

 around him, whoever they might be ; and was never for 

 one instant cheated into the toleration of it, however briUiant 

 the wit, or however droll the light in which it was placed ; 

 and the only sharpness of expression which he allowed to 

 himself, was a rebuke to those who indulged in sarcasm. 

 On hearing me repeat some malicious observations made by 

 a person celebrated for his wit and talent — not being aware 

 of the hidden meaniug of the words I quoted, and having 

 been very much amused with the conversation — M. Cuvier 

 instantly assumed a gravity and seriousness which almost 

 alarmed me, and then solemnly bade me beware of the false 

 colouring which I was but to apt to receive from the per- 

 son in question ; but fearing I should feel hurt, he instantly 

 resumed his kindness of manner, and lamented that the 

 real goodness of heart, the great abilities, and power of 

 divesting himself of partiality, in my friend, should so often 

 be obscured by the desire of saying what was clever or 

 brilliant. 



Two other great traits— perhaps, I ought rather call 

 them perfections — belonging to M. Cuvier, were, a total ab- 

 sence of all self-conceit and all resentment, both of which 

 led to a remarkable uniformity and kindness in performing 

 the duties of social life. That he had preferences, and that 

 these preferences were sometimes formed from the first in- 

 terview, was true ; and few people possessed of quick and 

 ardent l^eeUngs can avoid these sudden impressions ; but a 



