BARON CUVIER. 269 



anatomy or perspective; his quick eye immediately 

 fastened on it, even in the midst of the praises 

 excited by colouring or expression. To view 

 the exhibitions of the works of our celebrated 

 portrait painter, which took place after his death, 

 was one of the objects of M. Cuvier*s second 

 journey to this country ; and he frequently passed 

 hours in the British Gallery, where they had 

 at that time been collected. Hfe had person- 

 ally known many of those represented by this 

 life-giving painter ; he felt, as he contemplated 

 them, as if he were again in their presence, and 

 related a thousand anecdotes, which he was 

 delighted to recall. 



There was yet another talent of M. Cuvier's, 

 which manifested itself in his earliest youth, and 

 which, though trifling in extent, was a further 

 proof of his facility for retaining a recollection 

 of form. It was the power of cutting out, in 

 pasteboard or paper, whatever object had excited 

 his attention ; and a remarkable proof, not only 

 of his dexterity, but of his quick perception, oc- 

 curred when he was about six years of age. A 

 mountebank passed through the village, who 

 played various slight-of-hand tricks, and was 

 called in by M. Cuviei^'s uncle to amuse the 

 children assembled at his house. A " fontaine 



