BARON CUVIER. 221 



considered in the eleventh lecture of the second 

 course, and the influence tliey and their writings 

 shed over natural sciences. To this influence 

 may be attributed the formation of the different 

 academies of science, the history of which, toge- 

 ther with that of the celebrated men who com- 

 posed them at their commencement, formed a 

 most interesting lecture. Then, having proved 

 by cited works and discoveries, that the seven- 

 teenth century was the great era of science, and 

 having finished the history of this period in all 

 its scientific bearings, M. Cuvier closed his second 

 course by summing up all that had been said in 

 an abridged form. 



The third course began with the eighteenth 

 century, which, like its predecessors, passed in 

 review, though, from its importance and activity, 

 it, in several instances, required even more divi- 

 sion into parts, and various features of it de- 

 manded especial notice. To Buflfbn, for instance, 

 M. Cuvier devoted two entire lectures, which 

 at the time were thought to be the most beau- 

 tiful and eloquent he had ever delivered. This 

 third course was interrupted from the preceding 

 Easter till the December following, when he re- 

 opened it for the purpose of continuing his his- 

 tory from the time of Bufibn. He first gave a 



