BARON CUVIER. 255 



tutions, and under which privations we had so 

 long groaned! How many ameliorations took 

 place in a few years ; with what wisdom and 

 charity he examined our requests j and what a 

 new order of things would have arisen at his 

 bidding, had the Almighty suffered him to con- 

 tinue among us ! " 



M. Cuvier's elevation to the Chamber of Peers 

 was but a just tribute to his long and important 

 services; and he took his place among his new 

 colleagues witli that calm dignity which was not 

 likely to be ruffled by any accession of rank. It 

 was wholly unsolicited, and, at the moment, pro- 

 duced any thing but joy in himself or his family ; 

 for it appeared likely to draw liim still more 

 into public life, at a period when all around was 

 stormy and uncertain. It is well known how 

 the Chamber of Peers felt it their duty, for the 

 preservation almost of their existence as a body, 

 to vote in the agitating question of inheritance * ; 

 and, of course, M. Cuvier acted according to 

 his maxim of preferring the lesser evil, when 

 evil was unavoidable ; but, when unshackled by 



* In case of continued opposition, the Chamber of De- 

 puties threatened to form themselves into a Constituent 

 Assembly. 



