274 MEMOIRS OF 



ductions. On the lltli of February he wrote 

 as follows to M. de Jussieu: — * At the sight of 

 this young man 1 felt the same delight as the 

 philosopher who, when cast upon an unknown 

 shore, there saw tracings of geometrical figures. 

 M. Cuvier is a violet which has liidden itself 

 under the grass ; he has great acquirements, he 

 makes plates for your work, and I have urged 

 him to give us lectures this year on botany. He 

 has promised to do so, and I congratulate my 

 pupils at the Hospital on his compliance. I 

 question if you could find a better comparative 

 anatomist, and he is a pearl worth your picking 

 up. I assisted in drawing M. Delambre from 

 his retreat, and I beg you to help me in taking 

 M. Cuvier from his, for he is made for science 

 and the world.' Such were the words of M. 

 Tessier; and I may be pardoned for introducing 

 them here, as they do more honour to our own 

 species than the history of great battles and 

 conquests." 



M. Cuvier's grave and frequently absent air 

 has been repeatedly mistaken for an excess of 

 reserve and coldness, and thus it was often im- 

 possible for a mere casual observer to form a 

 correct judgment of the higli degree of bene- 

 volence whicli he evinced to all who required 



