BARON CUVIER. 15 



and examined his drawings, declared his inten- 

 tion of taking him under his special favour, and 

 sending him to the University of Stuttgard free 

 of expense, there to enter into his own Academy, 

 called the Acad6mie Caroline. He was then 

 only fourteen, but, in consequence of the pre- 

 paration he had undergone at the Gymnase of 

 Montb^liard, he was able to take his place 

 amons: the most celebrated students of the Aca- 

 demy. He, at this age then, quitted the pater- 

 nal roof for the first time : he was sent among 

 strangers without having an idea of the esta- 

 blishment he was about to enter ; and even in his 

 latest years he often said, that he could not 

 recall to memory this three days journey with- 

 out a sensation of fear. He was seated between 

 the Chamberlain and Secretary of the Duke, 

 both entirely unknown to him, and who spoke 

 nothing but German the whole way, of which 

 the poor child could not understand one word. 

 On the 4th of May, 1784, he entered the Aca- 

 d6mie Caroline ; and during the four years he 

 passed there, he studied all that was taught in 

 the highest classes, — mathematics, law, medi- 

 cine, administration, tactics, commerce, &c. 

 After applying himself for one year to philoso- 

 phy, as his particular object, he then chose the 



