MEMOIRS OF BARON CUVIER. 9 



Louis ; and, after forty years service, he re- 

 tired, with a small pension, to Montb^liard, 

 where he was afterwards appointed commandant 

 of the artillery in that town. At fifty years of 

 age he married a young lady, gifted with much 

 talent and feeling, by w^hom he had three sons. 

 The eldest died while his mother was pregnant 

 with her second son, which event preyed so 

 much upon her health, that her infant, George, 

 came into the world with a constitution so 

 feeble, that his youth scarcely promised man- 

 hood. The cares of this excellent mother, 

 during the extreme delicacy of his health, left 

 an impression on M. Cuvier which was never 

 effaced, even in his latest years, and amid the 

 absorbing occupations of his active life. He 

 cherished every circumstance connected with 

 her memory j he loved to recall her kindnesses, 

 and to dwell upon objects, however trifling, 

 w^hich reminded him of her. Among other 

 things, he delighted in being surrounded by 

 the flowers she had preferred, and whoever 

 placed a bouquet of red stocks in his study or 

 his room, was sure to be rewarded by his 

 most affectionate thanks for bringing him what 

 he called " the favourite flow^er.'* But this 

 well-judging parent did not confine her cares 



