MEMOIRS 



OF 



BARON CUVIER. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Before I enter upon the subject of this volume, 

 I would explain to my readers the motives 

 which have induced me to write it, in order to 

 prevent that appearance of presumption, which 

 may naturally be laid to the charge of an un- 

 learned person, who attempts to write the life 

 of so illustrious a savant. 



When death has torn from us those whom we 

 have most loved and revered, and the over- 

 whelming bitterness of grief is past, the first 

 feeling which awakens us from our sorrow is 

 the desire to uphold the memory, and to make 

 known to all men the virtues of the being en- 

 shrined in our hearts ; a feeling which springs, 

 not only from an honest pride in doing justice 



B 





