poverty, as well as the recollection of glorious and important services, was little calculated to make an impression upon ministers influenced by political passion, and subject to the capricious interference of foreigners.  A demand for a pension was accordingly repelled with rudeness.  Be reassured, however, France will not have to blush for having left in poverty one of her principal ornaments.  The Prefect of Paris,—­I have committed a mistake, Gentlemen, a proper name will not be out of place here,—­M.  Chabrol, learns that his old professor at the Polytechnic School, that the Perpetual Secretary of the Institute of Egypt, that the author of the Theorie Analytique de la Chaleur, was reduced, in order to obtain the means of living, to give private lessons at the residences of his pupils.  The idea of this revolts him.  He accordingly shows himself deaf to the clamours of party, and Fourier receives from him the superior direction of the Bureau de la Statistique of the Seine, with a salary of 6,000 francs.  It has appeared to me, Gentlemen, that I ought not to suppress these details.  Science may show herself grateful towards all those who give her support and protection, when there is some danger in doing so, without fearing that the burden should ever become too heavy.

Fourier responded worthily to the confidence reposed in him by M. de Chabrol.  The memoirs with which he enriched the interesting volumes published by the Prefecture of the Seine, will serve henceforth as a guide to all those who have the good sense to see in statistics, something else than an indigestible mass of figures and tables.

ENTRANCE OF FOURIER INTO THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.—­HIS ELECTION TO THE OFFICE OF PERPETUAL SECRETARY.—­HIS ADMISSION TO THE FRENCH ACADEMY.

The Academy of Sciences seized the first occasion which offered itself to attach Fourier to its interests.  On the 27th of May, 1816, he was nominated a free academician.  This election was not confirmed.  The solicitations and influence of the Dauphin whom circumstances detained at Paris, had almost disarmed the authorities, when a courtier exclaimed that an amnesty was to be granted to the civil Labedoyere![41] This word,—­for during many ages past the poor human race has been governed by words,—­decided the fate of our colleague.  Thanks to political intrigue, the ministers of Louis XVIII. decided that one of the most learned men of France should not belong to the Academy; that a citizen who enjoyed the friendship of all the most distinguished persons in the metropolis, should be publicly stricken with disapprobation!

In our country, the reign of absurdity does not last long.  Accordingly in 1817, when the Academy, without being discouraged by the ill success of its first attempt, unanimously nominated Fourier to the place which had just been vacant in the section of physics, the royal confirmation was accorded without difficulty.  I ought to add that soon afterwards, the ruling authorities whose repugnances were entirely dissipated, frankly and unreservedly applauded the happy choice which you made of the learned geometer to replace Delambre as perpetual secretary.  They even went so far as to offer him the Directorship of the Fine Arts; but our colleague had the good sense to refuse the appointment.