BARON CUVIER. 179 



voice gradually assume its wonted force and 

 energy, when he tried to inculcate some of 

 those great principles to which his medita- 

 tions had given birth, or to develope some use- 

 ful and important truth. He forgot his years 

 and his weakness when he could be useful to 

 young people, or when he performed his duties. 

 When made a senator, one of his colleagues 

 offered to help him, by giving lectures for him. 

 *' My friend," he answered, " I cannot be better 

 replaced than by you, and when age forces me 

 to resign my duties, be sure that I shall burthen 

 you with them ; " he was then eighty-three. 

 When thus appointed, he tried to fill his new 

 station as he had done all others ; but in order 

 to do this he was obliged to change his manner 

 of living, the regularity of which had, perhaps, 

 contributed to its long continuance. The season 

 was very severe ; and the first time he assisted 

 at the meetings of the body to which he was just 

 elected, he was struck with apoplexy, and fell 

 senseless into the arms of his colleagues. The 

 promptest aid could only restore him to life for a 

 few minutes, during which he evinced that de- 

 sire calmly to watch the operations of nature 

 which had hitherto marked his character. He 

 touched the different parts of his body which 



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