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



man, than the abuse of the physical powers. Repose, in every 

 case, refreshes our frail frame ; but it is not every one 

 that can obtain repose who desires it. Examine your own 

 thoughts., and say if, when jou are investigating some new 

 truth, gaiety or conversation, or even sleep, have the effect of 

 diverting your attention ? Fourier^'s shattered constitution re- 

 quired much care. After many trials, he found, that the only 

 means of freeing himself from the exhausting intensity of his 

 thoughts, was to speak in a loud tone on the events of his life, 

 on his scientific works, in progress or finished, and on the 

 wrongs of which he had to complain. Every one remarked, 

 how slight was the share of the conversation allotted by our 

 talented fellow member, to those who were in habits of familiar 

 intercourse with him : the reason for it will now be understood. 



Fourier had preserved, in his old age, the grace, the ur- 

 banity, and the varied information which, a quarter of a cen- 

 tury previously, gave such charms to his lectures at the Poly- 

 technic School. People even took pleasure in hearing him re- 

 count an anecdote which they knew by heart, or events in which 

 they themselves had enacted a part. Chance once made me a 

 witness of the sort o^Jascination which he exercised on his audi- 

 tors, in a circumstance which, T think, deserves to be known, 

 for it will shew, that the term I have just made use of is not 

 too strong. 



We were seated together at the same table. The guest from 

 whom I separated him, was an old officer. Our fellow mem- 

 ber was informed of it, and the question, — '' Have you been 

 in Egypt.?" served as a commencement to the conversation. 

 The reply was in the "affirmative. Fourier hastened to add, — 

 " As for myself, I remained in that magnificent country until 

 it was entirely evacuated. Although unacquainted with the 

 trade of war, I fought in the midst of our soldiers against the 

 insurgents of Cairo, and had the honour to hear the cannons at 

 Heliopolis.''^ From that, to recounting the battle, was an easy 

 transition. It was immediately done, and you had immediately 

 before you, four battalions in squares, forming in the plain of 

 Quobbeh, and manoeuvring with admirable precision under the 

 orders of the illustrious geometrician. My neighbour, all at- 

 tention, his eyes fixed, and neck bent forward, listened to this 



