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and very lately likewise those of Oriani and of Scarpa in Italy ; 

 five celebrated names, which have long been intimately associated 

 with the progress of science. The limits of this address must con- 

 fine me to a very brief and imperfect notice of their merits and 

 their labours. 



The Baron Cuvier, the most illustrious naturalist of modern times, 

 was born at Montbelliard in Alsace, in 1769, and died on the 13th of 

 May last, in the 63rd year of his age : it is not necessary for me to 

 detail any of the circumstances of the life of one whose name has 

 been long known and reverenced in every region of the globe which 

 has enjoyed the blessings of European civilization ; suffice it to say, 

 that he was honoured and even courted by every Government in 

 France from the period of the Convention to the present day; that 

 he held the most lucrative and distinguished appointments which the 

 wise policy of that great nation has provided for the honourable sup- 

 port of its men of science and literature ; that after the death of 

 Laplace he was universally regarded by his countrymen as the most 

 illustrious of their men of science, and as one of the roost distin- 

 guished of their men of literature ; that funeral orations were pro- 

 nounced over his grave by men of all political parties, however much 

 opposed to him during his life ; and mathematicians and naturalists, 

 geologists, historians and poets, all felt themselves impelled to pay 

 this last tribute of homage to the genius of one, who in so many ca - 

 pacities had done so much honour to his country. 



M. Cuvier was in every respect a most extraordinary man : his 

 very presence was calculated to command respect, his countenance 

 bearing that impress of a powerful intellect, which all men recognise 

 when seen, however difficult it may be to define its character : his 

 manners were dignified and polished, and his conversation possessed 

 that happy ease and subdued gaiety which characterized the best age 

 of French society. He was well acquainted with ancient literature, 

 and familiar with the principal languages of modern Europe. His 

 memory was singularly accurate and retentive ; and his knowledge 

 of facts, not merely in those sciences which he especially cultivated, 

 but likewise in all other departments of knowledge, and particularly 

 history, was a subject of surprise and admiration to all who knew 

 him. He was also eminently distinguished as a writer of his own 

 language, and his numerous eloges delivered in his capacity of se- 

 cretaire perpetuel to the Institut, of which three volumes have been 

 published, if considered as specimens of composition merely, have 

 equalled, if not surpassed, the best examples of a species of elo- 

 quence of which the French nation has just reason to be proud ; but 

 if they be considered as specimens of correct and precise discrimi- 

 nation of the merits of the persons commemorated, as determined by 

 their writings and discoveries, and by the influence which they have 

 exercised upon the progress of knowledge, they may justly be pro- 

 nounced to be unrivalled. It was to this publication that he was in- 

 debted for his place amongst the forty of the Academie Franeaise, 

 an honour which he alone, in his own age, enjoyed in conjunction 

 with his place in the Academic des Sciences. 



