EULOGY ON GAY-LUSSAC. 



By M. Arago. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The biography which I am about to read is of unusual length, not- 

 withstanding the numerous excisions I have made in it this very 

 morning. I might, as an excuse, say that Gaj'-Lussac is no ordinary 

 academiciauj that he will occupy a very eminent position in the scien- 

 tific history of the first half of the nineteenth century; that the titles 

 alone of the important memoirs he has published would fill a large num- 

 ber of pages, &c., &c. ; but, I prefer frankly acknowledging it, I was too 

 late in discovering that 1 had exceeded the established limits, and when 

 there no longer remained the necessary time for giving a new form to 

 my work. I therefore resign myself unreservedly to any criticisms that 

 the subject may call forth. I will merely observe to all those who, coming 

 here to seek relaxation, should unfortunately only find weariness, that 

 an old man, drawn into dwelling even to garrulity upon the divers merits 

 of a friend, has i)erhaj)s some claim to indulgence. 



CHILDHOOD OF GAY-LUSSAC— HIS ADMISSION TO THE POLYTECHNIC 



SCHOOL. 



Joseph, Louis Gay-Lussac, one of the most illustrious scientists of 

 which France can boast, was born, September C, 1778, at Saint Leonard, 

 a small town of the ancient province of Limousin, situated near the 

 frontier of Auvergne. His grandfather was a physician, and his father 

 king's procurateur (prosecutor) and judge at Pont de Noblac. 



Those who have had an opportunity of observing the frigid reserve 

 which characterized Gay-Lussac in mature age will be undoubtedly sur- 

 prised to hear me say that in his childhood he was boisterous, turbulent, 

 and very venturesome. To justify my appreciation, I will cite one fact 

 from a thousand which I have gathered from the lips of Gay-Lussac 

 himself, and which was also related to me by his relatives : A venerable 

 cure, uncle of our future associate, occupied a house only separated from 

 that of Gay-Lussac's family by a small yard ; he had established his 

 fruitery in a room on which looked the chamber where Gay-Lussac and 

 a brother, a year younger, were in the habit of studying. A desire to 

 taste the forbidden fruit took possession of Gay-Lussac. He hurriedly 



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