BARON CUVIER. 291 



given to the keepers of the galleries to take out 

 of the cases any object which was needed for 

 our closer examination.* 



Before dinner, M. Cuvier would occasionally 

 give a few minutes to his family, by joining the 

 assembled party in Mme. Cuvier's room. On the 

 sound, " Madame est servie,'* he would offer his 

 arm to his wife, and leading her to her seat, all 

 gathered round them both at this once happy 

 table. M. Frederic Cuvier, his son, and very 

 often one or two intimate friends who came by 

 chance, would increase the circle, and the most 



* Though perhaps somewhat foreign to my subject, I can- 

 not forbear making use of the first opportunity afforded me 

 of expressing my gratitude to many connected with this 

 vast andmagnificent establishment. M. Desfontaines, M. de 

 Jussieu, M. Brongniart, M. Geoffroy St. Hilaire, M. Frede- 

 ric Cuvier, M. Chevreuil, M. Valenciennes, M. Deleuze, and 

 M. Laurillard, thank God ! still live to receive this public tes- 

 timony of my sense of their kindness. M. Haiiy, M. Latreille, 

 M. Thouin, M. Royer, M. Dufresne, W. Vanspaendonck, 

 M. Lucas, have been called to another world, Avhere human 

 feelings are of no avail. Our pass-word for every thing was, 

 " de la Maison Cuvier;" and night and day we wandered 

 about this little world as if we had been among its permanent 

 inhabitants. Great have been the changes since then; and 

 now the master spirit of this beautiful abode is no more, I 

 shall never look on it again, and fancy that it has retained its 

 perfection. During my late visit, not even the subordinate 

 employes whom I had known in former times, but, after their 

 respectful greeting, lamented the death of their great patron, 

 in words that betokened the sincerest grief. 



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