BARON CUVIERc 77 



and labour, which could contribute to the glory of 

 his empire, he had resolved to bestow prizes of 

 money, every ten years, on the 9th of November, 

 on the best works in every branch of science, art, 

 and literature. The prizes were to be proclaimed 

 by the Minister of the Interior, and the success- 

 ful candidates were also to receive a medal from 

 tlie hands of the Emperor himself^ in presence 

 of the princes, the dignitaries of tiie state, the 

 great officers of the University, and the whole 

 body of the Institute, assembled at the Thuilleries. 

 All labours having sufficient merit w^ere to be 

 examined by a jury and judges, composed of the 

 presidents and perpetual secretaries of the four 

 classes of the Institute. Each class to make a 

 catalogue raisonne of the works put to the suf- 

 frage ; those deemed worthy of approaching 

 the prizes, to receive honourable mention ; but 

 those of sufficient merit, in the opinion of the 

 judges, to obtain the prize, to be noticed with 

 still greater detail. All the reports and dis- 

 cussions to be given to the Minister of the 

 Interior, by wliom they were to be kept en- 

 tirely secret from the public. No judge to be 

 allowed to pronounce on the merits of his own 

 productions. These prizes soon became an uni- 

 versal theme ; an exhibition of the pictures 



