Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-16
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
MEMOIR OF BARON CUvlER.
(London Literary Gdsctte.}


Baron Culver, as we last week stated, died at
Paris, on Tuesday the 18th OF May. This Illus
,r;,ns naturalist, during long and laborious ca
reer. has surpassed all who have preceded him
from the DAYS Of Aristotle, in the reform he has
elected in the science Of observation. His re-
liu,on (being brought up in the Protestant faith)
nat eariy difficulties in the way of bis education;
and at a subsequent period bis active mind gave
him, in The German University Of Heidelberg.
such an unenviabie polemicaI superiority, that
he was led, BY the prosecutions which II entalled,
10 abandon the profession of the church, bus ORR
oiual destination. The learned and eminent
1;eoTrey 81. Hillaire was the first to discover in
Young George Cuvier the indications of that SUI
nerior mind which was destined even 10 eclipse
has master; and, happily for science, obtained
his appointment to the school Of natural history
: ol the Garden of Plants. Remarkable it is, that
the career Of these two friends should have ter
minated in one Of the most abstract discussions
hat is presented By the annals Of natural science.
Both proceeded in the same way to remodel
the principles and TO 6x the classification Of ma
turaiists on an unalterable basis. viz the anato-
my Of function; and yet how different are the re-
suits obtained by two observers Of such undoubt-
ed Intellectual attainmentss The intimate know
HEDGE of animated nature, obtained by long and
seyere observation and reflections; the most Gu
ous experiments on the possibility Of frustrating
even nature in the generation Of species; and a
careful study Of her own devlations from her or
binary or for NAL structures, have led Godfrey
st. Hillare 10 see in the whole animal creation
uniformity of structure aud unity OF compost.
lion, which only in the changes produced in the
Elective affinity Of organs, by the necessity Of
performing new functions as the circumstances
become changed, lead to that Infinite variety Of
orm and aspect, with which it has pleased On
biscieuce to crowd the air, Ito people the sea- and
10 adorn the earth, the patrimony Of man.
The characteristic Of Cuvier's mind was ra
her accurate observation than the grasping ideal
|ty of his cotemporary; and though all his re-
learches exhibit most comprehensive scope Of
thought. yet this was so we'll disciplined by his
habits Of actual investigation, that he cannot be
paid ever to have committed an extravaganza in
theoretical deductions; and the same admirable
perfection Of the contempative faculties which
makes genius merely the application Of common
sense to new ideas. prevented him from erring
30 far as to enter the domain of hypothesis.
His lectures on comparative Anatomy have
been preserved by two Of his pupils, and, in their
Earliest form, have been translated by DR.. Mac
artney. They exhibited an unequalled assiduity
pf research, and were the basis Of the natural
arrangement Of the animal kingdom which he
presented to the world in the Regne .AnimaL-
Having ascertained, by his own observations, the
real situation which insects should occupy in the
ecale of creation, he left the arrangement Of the
orders and genera to Letrefle, who at that time
I'D already shewn bimseli TO be one Of the most
scientific entomolo: ists Of the day, and who had
meyer ceased from applying to that branch Of ma
flral history the improvements which remained
10 be effected by the new philosophy which was
hen dawnins upon science.
The dIssectionS upon the mollasoous animals
Which were undertaken to ascertain the natural
hfiirmities and real Importance of that singular
lass Of beings, are consigned to a separate tome,
which was published under the Baron's i,umedi-
BITE superintendent. The constancy of form
bnd structure, which in the course nf these re-
Searches this able naturalist had percevedo char
hcterize those separate creations which nature
appeared to mark out as a distinct species, lead
him to conceive that the lost forms Of the earth,
he animals OF former worlds. might be grouped
bnd their atfirmties TO living tribes be establish
fd by an inspection OF fragments however small
which might be collected from its rocky strata.
There was no occasion to travel to test the truth
Ps this deduction, the basin of the French metro
SOutdiHcu Wiluiu ttScit ali mdleFldlS ne
Fessary for the investigation, aud, to assist him
u the meteorological part Of the inquirey, he as
ociated NJ. Brogniart with himself: and the es.
Adjustment Of new order Of formations in the
Geological series, was one Of the first results
Thus, in prosecuting one branch of science, the
giant mind Of Culver was led to effect an i'm
Provement in another, as vast as it was unanti-
ipated The anatomical part of this inquiry,
3 1t stands Incorporated in the museum of the
iarden Of Plants, and in the great work on FOSSIL
Remains, will ever be one Of the most lasting
nouuments Of the authors genius.
As Secretary to the Academy Of Sciences.
Culver was called upon by the Emperor Napoleon
write the history Of the modern progress OF the
cieuce. of observation-a task which he accom-
ished with equal ability and modesty; aud the
nnual report Of similar nature, which it was
art Of his duty represent to the same learned
ody, brings down that history to the present
me. The biographical memoirs Of learned ma.
aralists, foreigners or countrynen, written du-
ing the same period, are also so numerous as to
several volumes. His last course at the Col.
ge OF France--and latterly he has not lectured
uch at the Garden of Plants-was on the an.
ent history Of the natural sciences, aud eyidenc-