8 M. Arago's Historical Eloge of Joseph Fourier, 



fellow member had the modesty to believe that his simple decla- 

 ration would not suffice, why, and this argument would have 

 been full of force, did he not shew to what extent his demon- 

 stration differs from that of his competitor ? An admirable de- 

 monstration in reality, and so imbued with the essential ele- 

 ments of the question, that a young geometrician, M. Sturm, 

 has just made use of it for establishing the truth of a beautiful 

 theorem, by means of which he determines, not only the simple 

 limits, but the exact number of roots of any equation, which 

 are included between two given quantities. 



A short time ago we left Fourier at Paris, submitting to the 

 Academy of Sciences the analytical work of which I have just 

 given a general idea. On his return to Auxerre, the young 

 geometrician found the town, the surrounding country, and 

 even the school to which he belonged, busily occupied with the 

 great questions of human dignity, philosophy, and politics, 

 which were at that time debated by the orators of the different 

 parties in the National Assembly. Fourier also gave himself 

 up to this excitement. He enthusiastically embraced the prin- 

 ciples of the revolution, and joined with ardour in whatever 

 was great, just, and generous in the popular struggle. His 

 patriotism induced him to undertake the most difficult missions. 

 Let us mention that, even at the peril of his life, he never took 

 advantage of the base, sordid, and sanguinary passions which 

 were engendered on all sides. 



As member of tlie popular society of Auxerre, Fourier pos- 

 sessed almost unlimited influence. There is one instance of it 

 which is still remembered throughout the whole of Burgundy, 

 On the occasion of the levy of 300,000 men, he made such elo- 

 quent use of the words honour, country, glory, and he persuaded 

 so many to enlist, that balloting was rendered unnecessary. At 

 the voice of the orsftor, the contingent assigned for the chief 

 place of the department of Yonne was formed, spontaneously 

 assembled within the very precincts of the assembly, and im- 

 mediately marched to the frontier. Unfortunately these strug- 

 gles in the forum, in which so many noble lives were at that 

 time wasted, were far from being always of real importance. Ri- 

 diculous, absurd, and burlesque notions continually jarred with 

 the inspirations of a pure, sincere, and enlightened patriotism. 



