S92 MEMOIRS OF 



delightful conversation would ensue. On pro- 

 ceeding to the drawing-room, M. Cuvier would 

 occasionally gratify those present by an hour's 

 stay among them before he retired to his occu- 

 pations, or paid his visits. Occasionally he would 

 bring forth some old book he had picked up at a 

 stall on one of the Quais, and boasting of his 

 bargain, read some passages ; or, bidding some 

 one read to him, he compared different edi- 

 tions. At a more recent period, if he had any 

 of M. Champollion*s letters from Egypt, he 

 would station us at different tables, with volumes 

 of the great work on Egypt, and verify the de- 

 scriptions of the antiquary step by step. He 

 never was weary of research ; though, it must be 

 owned, we occasionally wished for the sound of 

 the carriage wheels, to interrupt our employment. 

 He never suffered people to be idle in his house; 

 and no sooner did friends station themselves 

 among the family for a time, but he would come 

 into their rooms with folios and paper in his 

 hand, and set them to trace plates for him ; and 

 seldom forgot, on his return home from his duties 

 abroad, to enquire how much had been done. To 

 be sure, it was a pleasure to work for him, he 

 was so grateful for the service, and so happy 

 when the task was properly completed. His 



