BARON CUVIER. 229 



which characterised the times in which he Uved, 

 produced a constant change of systems, which 

 was calculated rather to destroy than to improve, 

 and, consequently, his actions and counsels were 

 conservative, yet progressive. " He was always the 

 mediator between the time passed and the time to 

 eome — between France and other nations ; he re- 

 sisted the antipathy of his countrymen against 

 those whom they chose to call barbarous; and 

 with his whole force always tried to stem the tor- 

 rent which their vanity and versatility occasionally 

 poured over that which was wise and useful." 



It has frequently been remarked, with great 

 bitterness, that M. Cuvier held more places than 

 any man had a right to monopolise. The best 

 answer to this attack is, the manner in which he 

 fulfilled the duties attached to them ; a fact 

 easily ascertained now they have passed into 

 other hands, though his career alone can show, 

 how the income of the statesman furnished the 

 savant with the means of carrying on his labours ; 

 how the counsellor of his sovereign protected the 

 naturalist; and how *' the new Aristotle became 

 his own Alexander.'* 



It would be difficult to decide in which part 

 of his public life Baron Cuvier's talents were 

 iBOSt pre-eminent ; the affairs of the University 



Q 3 



