BARON CUVIER. 39 



our statesmen, the confidential communications 

 he received, and the manner in which all was 

 laid open to him, were frequently a source of 

 happy recollection, which was as often expressed. 

 Some days of the period of his sojourn in Eng- 

 land were passed at Oxford, whither he was 

 accompanied by his valued friend. Dr. Leach of 

 the British Museum, who was his incessant cha- 

 peron in this country ; he returned from thence 

 perfectly enchanted with the city and its great 

 objects of interest, and with the distinction 

 which attended his reception there. His wife 

 and daughters met him at Windsor, and, after 

 passing the day in visiting the castle, park, &c., 

 they proceeded, late in the evening, to the 

 house of Sir William Herschel, who received 

 them with the utmost kindness, and showed 

 them his great telescope, though the night was 

 too dark to profit much by this famous instru- 

 ment. Another visit paid by M. Cuvier was 

 often alluded to by him with pleasure ; it was 

 to Sir Joseph Banks's house at Spring Grove : 

 he had often been to see him in Soho Square, 

 but the entertainment given to the whole party 

 at Spring Grove resembled a fete champetre. 

 The only thing to whicli M. Cuvier could not 

 r) 4 



