230 MEMOIRS OF 



alone would have sufficed for most men ; for 

 not only were the letters, notes, and remarks 

 which proceeded from his pen in this service 

 innumerable, but, besides these every-day la- 

 bours, of which the heads of the departments only 

 can form a just calculation, he wrote a mass of 

 Memoirs and Reports, either to enable the di- 

 recting ministry to comprehend the nature of 

 this institution, or to furnish them with argu- 

 ments for its defence against its many enemies. 

 Appointed to be one of the members of the 

 Council of the University (1808), he soon at- 

 tracted the notice of the Grand Master, Fon- 

 tanes, who named him Commissaire of a discus- 

 sion about to take place in the Council of State, 

 in the presence of Napoleon, respecting the Im- 

 perial University. M. Regnault de St. Jean 

 d'Angely, who spoke against the university, sup- 

 ported his opinion with much warmth, and with 

 all the talent he so eminently possessed. M. 

 Cuvier replied to him, and Napoleon, who had 

 listened to both with the greatest attention, 

 turned towards M. Regnault, and said, " Je 

 crois que vous etes atteint et convaincu d*avoir 

 tort," &c.* This circumstance, and the reports 



* I believe that you stand impeached and convicted of 

 being wrong, &c. 



