308 Documents in Commemoration of Baron. Cuvier. 
In the midst of so busy a life, he was far from neglecting the at- 
tractive accomplishments of social intercourse ; his conversation, some- 
times grave and solemn, sometimes keen and witty, always just, cir- 
eumspect and original, constituted the ornament of the saloon and 
the charms of intimacy. He was a warm, sincere and faithful friend. 
He gained the hearts and affections of those who surrounded him, 
and the skill with which he directed the efforts of others towards their 
proper end, was not one of the least of the causes of his remarka- 
ble success. His perseverance in friendship, his gratitude towards 
those who contributed to his youthful advancement, his moderation 
in all disputes, the devotedness with which he inspired all his de- 
pendents, are testimonies of those qualities of the heart and explan- 
atory of that moral empire which can be obtained only by depth and 
sincerity of feeling. He was associated with hearts worthy of his own; 
his wife, his daughter i in law, angels of kindness, of grace and resig- 
nation in his misfortune, lived only to render him happy. His brother, 
a man of distinction, and who could have appeared still more so had 
he not been placed by the side of a giant, was his true and faith- 
ful friend. His domestic life, which might have been so happy, was 
greatly troubled. ‘Three sons in their minority, preceded him to the 
tomb, and his daughter, a model of grace and virtue, was 
him when on the eve of a hymeneal union which promised thé greatest 
happiness. Of the four children of his wife by a former marriage, 
and whom he had adopted in a true paternal spirit, two were Tre- 
moved by death at an age in which dangers appeared to be past 
and hopes brightening into reality. Oh! what balms to a wounded 
mind, what consolation in trouble is the love of labor, the love of 
truth and of public good! How numerous are the friends. that I 
could name, were I permitted to go beyond the circle of natural ties 
in which so many claimed his affection, who were dear to him and 
who loved him tenderly. The homage rendered to the moral quali- 
ties of Cuvier might, I am sensible, appear like exaggeration. He 
who draws this hasty outline was a friend of thirty four years ? stand- 
ing, and who held his heart in higher honor even than his celebrity, 
but although he writes this in tears, he has conscientiously deseribe 
very imperfectly indeed, but with truth, the traits of that eminent 
ne whose loss rolled now deplores.— Bib. Univ. Avril, —— 
a 
