BARON CUVIER. 243 



the respect felt for him took place at the mo- 

 ment that a change was made in this appoint- 

 ment. It was the duty of the newly named 

 Grand Master to distribute some prizes awarded 

 by the University ; but he was very far from being 

 popular, and as the public mind was at that mo- 

 ment considerably agitated by political events, 

 it was generally understood that the students 

 intended to raise a violent commotion. Whether 

 he was in reality unprepared with his discourse, 

 or whether he feared the consequences of ap- 



though it increased his household expenses, and though it 

 was richly endowed, even under the restored government. 

 The following are the dates of his holding this office : — 

 M. Royer Collard vacated the presidency of the committee of 

 public instruction on the 13th of September, 1819. M. Cu- 

 vier replaced him on the same day ; and a letter from the 

 minister of the interior, dated the 17th of the same month, 

 notified the desire of the King, that the committee should 

 continue its labours under the presidency of the counsellor 

 holding the place of chancellor. M. Cuvier was that chan- 

 cellor, and continued in the rank of Grand Master until the 

 21st of December, 1820, at which period M. Corbiere was ap- 

 pointed to it. M. Corbiere resigned on the 31st of July, 1821, 

 and M. Cuvier was again chosen to fill the vacancy until the 

 1st of June, 1822, when M. Frayssinous was named Grand 

 Master. The day on which M. Frayssinous was called to 

 the ministry, M. Cuvier was appointed Grand Master for 

 Protestant Affairs, which dignity onlj' ceased with his exist- 

 ence ; and, let it be remembered, was equally filled by him 

 without pecuniary remuneration. 



R 2 



