BARON CUVTER. 33 



minded him of his child.* This misfortune 

 happened while M. Cuvier was fulfilling a mis- 

 sion at Rome, for the purpose of organising the 

 university there. It was remarkable enough, 

 that a Protestant should hold this office in the 

 metropolis of the Papal dominions, but the mo- 

 deration and benignity of M. Cuvier knew how 

 to soften inconsistencies ; his tolerance for all 

 sincere doctrines of religion proceeded from 

 conscientious motives, and therefore he was not 

 likely to revolt the creed of those among whom 

 he mingled. While thus employed at Rome, 

 Napoleon, from his own personal feeling, ap- 

 pointed him Maitre des Requetes in the Council 

 of State, of which honour he was first informed 

 by the Moniteur. The contact into which he 

 was constantly brought with the Emperor, in 

 his office of Counsellor to the University, the 

 intimate knowledge which his sovereign had 

 thus acquired of his administrative talents, 

 united to the favourable representations of the 

 Grand Master, Fontanes, were supposed to be 



* So late as 1830, when M. Cuvier visited this country, I 

 took my son to see him at the hotel where he was staying, 

 forgetting the effect it was likely to produce ; and I shall for 

 ever remember the pause he made before him, and the 

 melancholy tenderness with which he laid his hand on the 

 head of the boy. 



