BARON CUVIER. 231 



made by M. Cuvier after his return from Italy 

 and Holland, led the Emperor to appreciate his 

 legislative talents, and to appoint him Maitre 

 des Requetes * in the Council of State. His 

 high opinion went still further; for he ordered 

 M. Cuvier to select a library for the use of the 

 King of Rome in his education. The list was 

 made, and laid before Napoleon at the Thuil- 

 leries, when the expedition to Russia put an end 

 to all these projects. 



Raised to the rank of Counsellor of State t 

 in 1814, M. Cuvier's powers of defence were 

 constantly called forth in favour of the body 

 of which he formed a part ; and not only did he 

 shield it from the attacks made upon it, but he 

 was often obliged to teach the very ministers the 

 part it played in the government, and the im- 

 portance to themselves of preserving this insti- 

 tution. The ministerial archives of France 



* The office of the Maitres des Requetes is, to examine 

 all questions about to be brought forward in the Council of 

 State, to report upon them to the Council, and to give their 

 own opinions concerning the matter. 



f This appointment astonished several of those who were 

 about the Court, and one who was allowed to converse with 

 Napoleon having asked him why he called a savant to the 

 Council of State, the Emperor replied, " that he may be able 

 to rest himself sometimes ;" well knowing, that to a man 

 like M. Cuvier the best repose was a change of occupation. 



Q 4 



