222 MEMOIRS OF 



clear and eloquent r6sum6 of the philosophy of 

 Kant, of Fichte, and of Schelling ; and one day 

 in every week was set apart by him, notwith- 

 standing his increased duties as a peer of France, 

 for the continuation of this immense undertak- 

 ing. The interval of repose which followed, and 

 which was absolutely necessary for his health, 

 was prolonged much beyond his calculation by 

 the dreadful visitation of the cholera ; but on 

 the 8th of May, 1832, he again resumed the 

 chair with one of his most impressive and ele- 

 vated discourses. Never had he spoken with 

 more fire, nor with more ease to himself: he 

 " could have continued for two or three hours 

 longer," he said, " had he not been afraid of 

 tiring his audience." But they had heard him 

 for the last time, and this lecture, the memorable 

 words it contained, and the effect it produced, 

 seem to me to be so inseparable from his death, 

 that, for a further description of it, I must refer 

 the reader to the last portion of this volume, 

 where the sad details of the closing scene are 

 related at length. And now having endeavoured, 

 though I fear but with inadequate success, to 

 describe M. Cuvier's scientific labours, I cannot 

 do better than return to that part of his works, 

 which it is here the principal object to illustrate. 



