2 INTRODUCTION. 



to one who is no more, but from a desii'e that 

 posterity should benefit by the example. Rous- 

 ing myself, then, from the stunning grief which 

 at first assailed me, I eagerly sought all the 

 public notices which appeared in England con- 

 cerning the Baron Cuvier, in the hope of finding 

 something equal to his high deserts ; but though 

 all did him the justice of placing him above 

 every other naturalist, not one spoke of his 

 talents as a legislator, and all equally neglected 

 his private character. This, and the almost uni- 

 versal incorrectness of detail, no doubt proceeded 

 from ignorance rather than intention ; yet, dis- 

 appointed as I was that my countrymen should 

 have so little known and appreciated one of the 

 most admirable persons of our time, nothing, at 

 that moment, could be further from my thoughts 

 than to supply the deficiencies by my own pen. 

 Most of those who were either anxious to 

 enquire of me concerning the surviving family, or 

 who were kindly solicitous about myself under 

 such a calamity, seemed to think it a matter of 

 course that I should publish some particulars of 

 my lost friend ; but although this certainly sug- 

 gested the possibility of doing so, I still felt my 

 own inadequacy too deeply to do other than 

 refuse the undertaking. In a few weeks, how- 



