1831 - 1841 .] 
MEMORIAL TO CUVIER. 
125 . 
have lived and perished in distant ages, and our know¬ 
ledge of which is due to discoveries in Geology, was 
formed and fashioned by the same Almighty Hand. At 
the age of sixty-three, in the vigour of his mind, he has 
been called to an early grave. The gratitude of the great 
nation to whose philosophic fame his genius has added 
so bright a wreath has already displayed itself by a liberal 
provision for his family, and has fixed his widow during 
the remainder of her mortal life in that honoured and 
well-known mansion in the Jardin des Plantes, which 
during a quarter of a century has been ever opened in 
friendly hospitality to every son of science assembled at 
Paris from every nation under heaven. I fear my feelings 
of respect and love and gratitude have transported me 
beyond the limits which the task I have undertaken 
should impose on me; still 1 cannot but rejoice in the 
opportunity which this august assembly affords of inviting 
you to partake in this great and glorious work, and thus 
publicly to record your gratitude to that immortal man, 
whose friendship I have ever counted among the most 
distinguished honours of my life, and whose genius will 
be ever venerated so long as science shall be cultivated or 
virtue venerated upon earth." 
Nor was Buckland content with words only. It was, it 
may be added, mainly owing to his suggestion and active 
exertions that a considerable sum of money was collected 
in England, and handed over to M. Cordot, who acted as 
treasurer of the fund raised in Paris to commemorate the 
memory of the great philosopher and naturalist. 
Among the noticeable events of the week was a lecture 
delivered by Buckland on the summit of Shotover Hill 
to a large class of the members, including both veterans 
in science and ladies. It was at this lecture that, for 
the first time, attention was drawn to the importance of 
the application of a knowledge of geology to agricultural 
