M. Arago's Historical Eloge of Joseph Fourier. 239 



1817, when the Academy, without allowing itself to be dis- 

 couraged by the bad success of its first attempt, unanimously 

 named Fourier to the place which had just become vacant in 

 physics, the royal assent was obtained without difficulty. I 

 ought to add, that very soon afterwards, the government, hav- 

 ing got rid of their dislike, frankly and unreservedly approved 

 of the happy choice which you made of the learned geometri- 

 cian, to replace Delambre as Perpetual Secretary. 1'hey even 

 went so far as to wish to entrust him with the direction of the 

 fine arts ; but he had the good sense to refuse. 



On the death of Lemontey, the French Academy in which 

 Laplace and Cuvier already represented the sciences, enrolled 

 Fourier amongst its members. The literary titles of the most 

 eloquent fellow-labourer in the work on Egypt were indisput- 

 able : they were not even disputed ; and yet this nomination 

 caused violent debates in the newspapers, which deeply afflicted 

 our fellow-member. But was not this rather a question as to 

 whethej these double nominations are useful ? Might it not 

 be alleged, without being guilty of a paradox, that they extin- 

 guish among youth an emulation which we are bound in duty 

 to encourage ? Besides, what would become of that unity so 

 much boasted of by the old Academy, if there were double, 

 triple, and quadruple memberships ? 'rhe public at last would 

 only discover it in the unity of the dress. 



Whatever truth there may be in those reflections, and I 

 hope you will correct them if 1 am wrong, I hasten to re- 

 peat that the academical titles of Fourier were not even the 

 subjects of a doubt. The applause which had been lavished 

 on the elocjuent elopes of Delambre^ Bregiiet^ Charles^ and Her- 

 schel^ proved sufficiently, that if their author had not been al- 

 ready one of the most distinguished members of the Academy 

 of Sciences, the public would have unanimously called him to 

 take his station among the arbiters of French literature. 



Fourier at length restored, after so many reverses, to his fa- 

 vourite occupations, passed the last years of his life in retire- 

 ment, and in the fulfilment of his academical duties. Conver- 

 sation had become the chief part of his occupation. Those 

 who thought they had just cause for blaming this, doubtless 

 forgot, that constant reflection is no less strictly forbidden to 



