BARON CUVIER. 321 



seemed to be perfectly aware of what was to 

 follow. He, with the most perfect calmness, 

 ordered his will to be made ; and in it evinced 

 the tenderest solicitude for those whose cares 

 and affection had embellished his life, and for 

 those who had most aided him in his scientific 

 labours. He could not sign it himself, but four 

 witnesses attested the deed. He sent for that 

 good M. Royer, who was so soon to follow him, 

 to make a statement of the sums he had ex- 

 pended, out of his private fortune, on the alter- 

 ations of the rooms behind his house, though the 

 affliction of this Chef du Bureau d' Administration 

 was so heavy as almost to disable him from doing 

 his duty. M. Cuvier alone was tranquil; and, 

 perfectly convinced that all human resource was 

 vain, he yet, for the sake of the beloved objects 

 who encircled him, submitted without impa- 

 tience to every remedy that was suggested. The 

 malady augmented during the night, and the 

 most celebrated medical practitioners were called 

 in : emetics were administered by means of a 

 tube, but, like all other endeavours, they did not 

 cause the least alteration. Friday was passed in 

 various, but hopeless, attempts to mitigate the 

 evil ; and perhaps, they only increased the 

 suffering of the patient. In the evening the pa- 



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