240 MEMOIRS OF 



to these consequences without hesitation ; in 

 short, to prefer conscience to interest, was the 

 work of an instant ; and in ten minutes, a firm, 

 diirnified, but moderate refusal, was sent to the 

 Chancery. The ordonnance was at that moment 

 printed, and M. Cuvier's name appeared in the 

 list of the morning, because it had been physi- 

 cally impossible to get it erased ; but private 

 means were taken to publish his refusal in every 

 quarter, till all France was in entire possession 

 of the fact. Most of the papers, under fear of 

 the censorship, had been unable to repair the 

 error ; and, in fact, when the Journal des Debats 

 ventured to insert M. Cuviei'^s rejection of the 

 office, the lines which contained it were scratched 

 out by the censors.* This conduct, with the 

 fickle public, regained M. Cuvier's lost popu- 

 larity, but produced great coolness towards him 

 on the part of the King. I ought not, however, 

 to omit mentioning, to the credit of Charles X., 

 that this coolness ceased after M. Cuvier's dread- 

 ful calamity. The first time he appeared at 

 Court after the loss of his daughter, his Majesty 

 addressed him with considerable feeling and 



* Others refused the office at the same time, but I have 

 only to speak of M. Cuvier. 



