BARON CUVIER. 93 



talents are scattered through the work of which 

 I am now speaking, but are more particularly 

 contained in the third volume of the last edition.* 



* Had I no motive of friendship and esteem to induce me 

 to make known the merits of M. Laurillard, the secretary of 

 M. Cuvier, it would be but justice to mention him here, as 

 one who was associated with his patron in these and all 

 succeeding labours, and who proved that the great anatomist 

 carried his discrimination even into the mental organisation 

 of humanity. The manner in which this association was 

 formed is too interesting to be passed over in silence. M. Lau- 

 rillard, also from Montbeliard, left his native place in order to 

 cultivate his talents for design in the capital, with a view of 

 becoming professional. He was there introduced to M. 

 Frederic Cuvier, for whom he executed some drawings. He 

 also made one or two for M. Cuvier, without particularly at- 

 tracting his notice. One day, however, M. Cuvier came to 

 his brother to ask him to disengage a fossil from its surround- 

 ing mass, an office he had frequently performed. M. Lau- 

 I'illiard .was the only person to be found on the spot, 

 and to him M. Cuvier applied in the absence of his bro- 

 ther. Little aware of the value of the specimen confided 

 to his care, he cheerfully set to work, and succeeded in get- 

 ting the bone entire from its position. M. Cuvier, after a 

 short time, returned for his treasure, and when he saw how 

 perfect it was, his ecstasies became incontrollable ; he danced, 

 he shook his hands, he uttered expressions of delight, till 

 M. Laurillard, in his ignorance both of the importance of what 

 he had done, and of the ardent character of M. Cuvier, 

 thought he was mad. Taking however his fossil foot in one 

 hand, and dragging M. Laurillard's arm with the other, he led 

 him up stairs to present him to his wife and sister-in-law, 

 saying, " I have got my foot, and M. Laurillard found it for 

 me." It seems, that this skilful operation confirmed all 

 M. Cuvier's previous conjectures concerning a foot, the 

 existence and form of which he had already guessed, but 



