38 



MEMOIRS OF 



mob, who pelted them witli mud, cabbages, eggs, 

 &c. ; and Sir Murray Maxwell, in his splendid 

 uniform, and decorated with orders, flattering 

 the crowd, who reviled him, and sent at his 

 head all the varieties of the vegetable kingdom. 

 Nothing ever eflaced this impression from M. 

 Cuvier's memory, who frequently described the 

 scene with great animation. 



M. Cuvier had two objects in visiting Eng- 

 land, one of which was, to observe, on the spot, 

 the influence of our constitutional government, 

 which was only known to him in theory. He 

 conversed with several of our political cha- 

 racters, he saw every thing which marked the 

 application of our system upon mankind, and 

 took back with him to France clear and precise 

 ideas, by which he well knew how to profit in 

 his future labours. It was frequently a matter 

 of great astonishment to my countrymen to find 

 him so well acquainted with our institutions, 

 even to the details of their expenses, the period 

 of their formation, and the changes they had 

 undergone. The other, and the great object of 

 M. Cuvier's excursion, was of a scientific nature; 

 and it is with pleasure I add, that he always 

 spoke of his reception here with gratitude. The 

 facilities aftbrded him both by our savants and 



