BARON CUVIEK. ^0.5 



heard-of phenomena ; we may almost say that 

 they have counted tlie stars of the milky way. 

 If chemistry has assumed a new aspect, the 

 facts they have furnished have essentially con- 

 tributed to this metamorphosis. Inflammable 

 air, pure air, phlogistic air, are due to them ; 

 they have discovered the decomposition of water, 

 and a number of new metals have been produced 

 by their analyses. The nature of fixed alkalies 

 has only been demonstrated by them ; mechan- 

 ism, at their voice, has given birth to miracles, 

 and placed their country above all others in 

 almost every species of manufacture." 



The mineralogist, M. Duhamel, appeared at a 

 time when De Saussure had not travelled, Deluc 

 had not written, nor Werner, by the force of his 

 extraordinary genius, arranged the mineral uni- 

 verse ; and, after years of scientific labour, was 

 appointed to the Ecole des Mines, established in 

 Paris ; and in tracing his influence in this pro- 

 fessorship, M. Cuvier thus speaks : — " Our pro- 

 ducts in iron are quadrupled ; the mines of this 

 metal opened, near the Loire, in the region of 

 coal, and in the midst of combustible matter, are 

 about to yield iron at the same price as in Eng- 

 land. Antimony, manganese, which we for- 

 merly imported, are now exported in considerable 



