Eloge of Alexander Volta. 29 



journey. The foundation of a prize of 60,000 francs, to be 

 awarded to the individual who shall give an impulse to the 

 sciences of electricity or magnetism, similar to that which they 

 first received from Franklin and Volta, is another proof of the 

 enthusiasm which the Great Captain had felt. This impression 

 was lasting, and the professor of Pavia became in the eyes of 

 Napoleon the type of genius. He was speedily decorated with 

 the cross of the Legion of Honour, and the Crown of Iron 5 

 nominated a member of the Italian Council, and raised to the 

 dignity of Count and Senator of the Kingdom of Lombardy. 

 When the Italian Institute presented itself at the palace, 

 if Volta happened not to be among the foremost ranks, the 

 abrupt questions, " Where is Volta ? is he unwell ? why i& 

 he not present .?" slx)wed perhaps too obviously, that, in the 

 eyes of the sovereign, the other members, in spite of all their 

 knowledge, were merely satellites to the inventor of the pile. 

 " I cannot consent," said Napoleon in 1804, " to the retirement 

 of Volta. If the duties of a professor fatigue him, he may di- 

 riiinish them. Let him deliver, if he please, only one lecture 

 in the year, but the University of Pavia would be struck to the 

 heart, were I to permit a name so illustrious to disappear from 

 the list of her members ; besides," he added, " a good general 

 ought to die on the field of honour."" The good general found 

 the argument irresistible, and the Italian youth, whose idol he 

 was, continued to enjoy his valuable instructions for some years. 



Newton, during the course of his parliamentary career, is said 

 to have spoken only once, and that was to ask an attendant on 

 the House of Commons, to shut a window that admitted a cur- 

 rent of air, and might give a cold to an orator then addressing 

 the House. If the door-keepers at Lyon, during the Italian 

 council, or those of the Senate at Milan, had been less careful > 

 perhaps Volta's goodness of heart might have led him to over- 

 come his extreme reserve, though it were only for an instant ; 

 but the opportunity was wanting, and the illustrious philosopher 

 will inevitably be classed among those timid or indifi^erent per- 

 sons, who live among revolutions and animated assemblies of peo- 

 ple, without expressing an opinion or uttering a single word. 



It has been said that happiness, like material bodies, is com- 

 posed of imperceptible elements. If this idea of Franklin's be 



