parative anatomy in Europe. He now began to publish various papers, more especially on the structure of the lower animals, and in 1798 produced his work entitled "Tableau Elementaire de l'Histoire Naturelle des Animaux." In the same year he commenced the publication of his researches on fossil bones, by the publication of a paper on the "Bones Found in the Gypsum Quarries of Montmartre." In his earlier papers he had devoted considerable attention to the comparison of fossil and recent species of animals, and in the bones of Montmartre he found a rich depository for the exercise of his skill, in comparing recent with extinct species. He early seized the idea that each group of animals was formed on a plan, and that the whole structure of each species was adapted to its living requirements. He was thus enabled by small fragments of bone, to reconstruct the whole fabric of an animal, and thus to give a living picture of the creatures that inhabited the earth in past times. It was by these researches that he was enabled subsequently to give to the world his great work on the "Fossil Bones of Quadrupeds," in which numerous forms of animal life were presented which had long since been destroyed by the revolutions of the globe.
In 1796 the National Institute of France was formed, and Cuvier was made a member, and in 1798 he was made secretary. On the death of Daubenton in 1800, he was named his successor as professor of the philosophy of natural history in the college of France. He still, however, held his position of professor in the Jardin des Plantes. His lectures had been so successful here, that they were published by his pupils M.M. Dumeril and Duvernoy, in five volumes. The first appeared in 1800, and the fifth in 1805. They have since been republished, and in 1839 in ten volumes. They contain a vast mass of interesting matter on the subject of zoology and comparative anatomy, and are written as they were delivered, in an eloquent and attractive style. Cuvier lectured from copious notes, and was remarkable for his accurate and fluent style, and the interest which he threw into the subject of his discourses. But a new sphere of activity awaited him. The first consul was not long in detecting the administrative ability of the eloquent teacher of natural history. In 1802 Cuvier was appointed one of six inspectors, to establish lyceums or public schools in the principal towns of France. He established those of Marseilles, Nice, and Bordeaux. During his absence on this duty, the National Institute was remodelled, and Cuvier was appointed secretary to the section of natural sciences, with a salary of six thousand francs a year.
In 1803 he married the widow of M. Duvancel, a former fermier-general. By this marriage he had four children, none of whom survived their father. He was an attached husband and father, and few men of his eminence have been more remarkable for the regularity and simplicity of their social life. One of his children, a daughter, lived to be old enough to be betrothed, but died within a few days of her appointed marriage. She was eminent tor the beauty and piety of her character; and the affections of the great philosopher were so bound up with this amiable child, that it is said her death hastened his own end.
Nothing gave a greater brilliancy to the conquests of Napoleon and the position he had thereby attained, than his appreciation of the importance of scientific pursuits. With a much sounder estimate of the value of natural science as a branch of education, than was exhibited by the other governments of Europe, he everywhere introduced into his new colleges the study of the natural history sciences, and in Cuvier he found a man profoundly convinced of the importance of these studies to the advancement of mankind. Discoverer as he was, he did not pursue science for his own self-elevation, but was supported in his labours by the thought that he was contributing to the working out of the great designs of Providence, and the welfare of the human family. One of the most brilliant productions of his pen was a report called for by Napoleon on the history of the progress of science since the year 1789. This luminous composition was presented to Napoleon in the council of state. In this remarkable treatise, which was published in Paris in five volumes in 1829, he endeavoured to show the connection between the advancement of knowledge and human happiness. He maintained that the object of science was "to lead the mind of man towards its noble destination—a knowledge of truth; to spread sound and healthy ideas amongst the working classes of the community; to draw human beings from the empire of prejudice and passion; to make reason the arbitrator and supreme guide of public opinion." From this passage it will be seen that Cuvier's pursuit of science was founded on no mere self-glorification, but that his heart was as large as his mind was great, and that he considered the highest destination of the achievements of his genius to be the advancement of his race.
In 1809, 1810, and 1811 we find Cuvier still employed by the imperial government in reorganizing the educational institutions of the continent of Europe. The sword of the conqueror everywhere made way for the minister of education. In 1810 he organized the universities of Piedmont, Genoa, and Tuscany. In 1811 he was in Holland and the Hanseatic towns. His labours extended not alone to the higher classes in the universities, but to schools for the mass of the people. He held that instruction led to civilization, and civilization to morality; that unless the education of the working classes was sound and extensive, they could not appreciate the value of knowledge in them who governed them and exercised professions, and who had received their special education in the universities. Those only who are intimately acquainted with the continent of Europe, can fully appreciate the benefits conferred by the intelligent labours of this great man.
Successful as he had been in the other parts of Europe, he had a more delicate mission to perform when sent by the emperor to Rome to organize the university there. But such was his good sense and benignity of manner, that protestant as he was, he found no difficulty in acquitting himself of his arduous task, in a manner that gained for him the esteem and approbation of all with whom he came in contact in the capital of the Roman catholic world. On his return Napoleon appointed him master of requests in the council of state, and in 1814, just before his abdication, he named him councillor of state, an appointment which was confirmed by Louis XVIII. He was shortly after appointed chancellor of the university by the same monarch, a post which he held till his death. In 1818 he was elected a member of the French Academy, and in 1819 he was appointed president of the committee of the interior in the council of state. In the same year Louis XVIII. created him a baron. In 1822 he became grand-master of the Faculties of Protestant Theology in the university of Paris. Under his mastership fifty new protestant cures were established in France. Numerous professorships of natural history in the minor schools of France were established under his direction. He became also at this period a vice-president of the French Bible Society. In 1826 Charles X. bestowed upon him the decoration of grand officer of the legion of honour, and his former sovereign, the king of Wurtemberg, made him a commander of the order of the crown. In 1827 he lost his daughter and only remaining child. In 1830 he commenced a new course of lectures in the college of France on the progress of science in all ages. In 1832 Louis Philippe made him a peer of France. On the 8th of May of that year he opened the third part of his course with an introductory lecture. After an unusually eloquent lecture, describing the objects of the course, he concluded:—"These will be the objects of our future investigations, if time, health, and strength shall be given me to continue and finish them with you." But the health failed, the strength went, and the time was shortened; for the next day he was seized with a fit of paralysis, and he expired on the 13th of May, in the sixty-third year of his age. He was taken in the midst of his days to his everlasting rest. But his works remain the imperishable monument of his genius. These will be the possession of humanity, when the Revolution in which he lived shall have sunk to the insignificance of a passing event in the history of a nation, and the names of its heroes shall be forgotten.
During his lifetime Cuvier twice visited England—once in 1819; and during his absence he was elected a member of the French Academy. He was here again in 1830, and this time an important event took place; for the revolution of July occurred, and the baron came the servant of one monarch, and returned the servant of another.
In this short sketch of his life, it is impossible to speak in detail of the writings of Cuvier. We have spoken of some of his papers, of his lectures, his reports, and his great work on fossil bones; but these give but a very imperfect idea of his labours. The list of his papers and works, as given in Agassiz's Bibliographia Geologiæ et Zoologiæ, published by the Ray Society, amount to two hundred and seven, and this is probably far below the mark. It is not necessary to refer to his papers here, remarkable as many of them are; but this notice would
