242 Mf^MOIRS OF 



of subjects wholly irrelevant to the matter in dis- 

 cussion J but he was often, at that very moment, 

 writing the judgment or regulation which must 

 necessarily follow the deliberation. His turn to 

 speak only came w^hen all others had stated then- 

 reasons, when useless words were expended. 

 Then a new light burst upon the whole ; facts 

 assumed their proper position, confused and min- 

 gled ideas were arranged in order, the inevitable 

 consequences appeared, and when he ceased to 

 speak the discussion was terminated."* 



But these were not all the legislative labours 

 of M. Cuvier. Always holding the office of 

 Chancellor to the University, he had twice been 

 forced, in the temporary vacation of the Grand 

 Mastership, to take upon himself the highest 

 dignity, and, during these two periods, fewer 

 complaints were made against this institution 

 than at any other.t A niost gratifying proof of 



* These are nearly the words of one of M. Cuvier's brother 

 legislators, the Baron Pasquier, to whose eloquent eloge, de- 

 livered in the Chamber of Peers, of which he is president, I 

 am deeply indebted. My sole object is to do justice to 

 M. Cuvier's talents and character ; and to accomplish this, 1 

 may be excused for employing better language than my own, 

 especially when the writers speak from personal knowledge. 



f It should be understood, that, in twice accepting the 

 functions of Grand Master for the time being, M. Cuvier 

 never received the salai-y attached to this higli dignity, 



