208 Baron Fourier''s Historical Notice 



value. Numerous artists felt themselves honoured by being 

 ranked among his pupils, and he was placed, by unanimous suf- 

 frage, in the list of the most celebrated inventors. 



His works were imitated or copied, for there are plagiarists 

 in all professions. They even made use of his name, a circum- 

 stance which induced him to invent a very remarkable process 

 for engraving on enamel in extremely small characters. Every 

 thing became in his hands the occasion of a discovery. His re- 

 putation was, so to speak, formed without his knowledge ; the 

 productions of his establishment have alone extended it through- 

 out all Europe. He took no care to describe and publish his 

 inventions, but he communicated them with freedom. 



The works of Montucla, of Lalande, the treatise of Ferdinand 

 Berthoud, but particularly that of M. Jurghensen, a celebrat- 

 ed Danish artist, have communicated information respecting 

 his early researches, but the interests of the arts required that 

 his inventions should be brought together and fully described 

 in one work. M. Breguet and his son undertook this difficult 

 task. The death of the former has interrupted this difficult 

 task, but it was already far advanced. These valuable MSS. 

 exist : the friends of science eagerly desire their publication, 

 and we may announce that their wishes will not be long unful- 

 filled. 



His productions were not only distinguished by new and 

 happy combinations, but also by extreme perfection of work- 

 manship, and a singular example occurred of the impression 

 which the sight of his works occasioned. The celebrated 

 Arnold, one of the best English artists, was struck with asto- 

 nishment, when he examined one of Breguefs watches, which 

 the Duke of Orletins had sent to him. He resolved instantly 

 to go to Paris. He called together his family, and as it were 

 without turning his eyes from the object of his admiration, he 

 informed them that he would set out that evening. Welcomed 

 by Breguet, he established himself for some time in his vici- 

 nity, and their art was extended by their reciprocal communi- 

 cations. It was then that M. Louis Breguet, his son, was 

 put under the care of Mr Arnold. He spent several years in 

 London under that great master, and it was there that he 

 learned to become the co-operator and successor of his father. 



