BARON CUVIER. ^27 



PART III. 



I AM now arrived at that part of the Baron 

 Cuviei'*s labours which is least known in this 

 country, and certainly the least understood, on 

 account of the marked differences which must 

 always exist between the legislature of two na- 

 tions so dissimilar in feeling and character as 

 England and France. Before I enter upon this 

 subject, however, I must request my readers to 

 bear in their memory these three things : — First, 

 that the improvement of the human mind and 

 morals was the Baron Cuvier's sole and real 

 ambition ; secondly, that his leading inclination 

 was the advancement of science, which he consi- 

 dered the best auxiliary of his views on mankind ; 

 and thirdly, that the great maxim and rule of 

 his life was order. Whatever tended to de- 

 range these was avoided by him with the most 

 scrupulous care; whatever tended to their ad- 

 vancement was most cherished by him. He 

 loved his places, because they gave him the 

 power of executing his great and benevolent 



Q 2 



