248 MEMOIIIS OF 



the funds they possess for a cabinet of natural 

 history, and for the purchase of various instru- 

 ments, entirely to M. Cuvier's efforts. The ap- 

 pointment of medical officers, who understood 

 natural history, to the government vessels, was 

 solely due to his suggestions, as well as that of 

 attaching collecting travellers to the museum of 

 the Jardin des Plantes. The treasures brought 

 home by the Uranie, theCoquille, and other ships, 

 are proof of the excellence of the first plan ; for 

 the officers were delighted to employ their leisure 

 in drawing, describing, and preserving the objects 

 they met with in the course of their expedition. 

 The rapid increase of the museum at the Jardin, 

 during the life of M. Cuvier, speaks too plainly 

 for the latter to need further comment. The 

 mode of appointing professors is a complicated 

 question in France : some are partisans for elec- 

 tion by vote, some support nomination by esta- 

 blished high autliority, and others, succession. 

 Each of tliese methods is attended with incon- 

 venience ; and voting, which theoretically may 

 appear to be the best, has not realised the 

 hopes of those who caused it to be adopted. It 

 gives an opportimity for all to enter the lists ; 

 and men of consummate skill and experience 

 do not like to find themselves placed in contact 



