166 EULOGY ON GAY-LUSSAC. 



idle. Our friend was busy with the study of the carbureted hydrogens 

 proceeding from the distillation of oils. The glass balloon containing 

 the ga^es, and which had been set aside for several days, was taken by 

 M. Larivifere, a young chemist, to be submitted to Gay-Lussac's inspec- 

 tion. While our colleague was absorbed in the minute examination 

 necessary to give the i)rojected experiments the desirable precision, a 

 frightful explosion took place, the cause of which, even to this day, is 

 not perfectly understood, which completely shattered the balloon. Such 

 was the velocity of the fragments of glass, that they made on the win- 

 dow-panes of the laboratory clear holes without the trace of a fissure, as 

 if by projectiles from fire-arms. Gay-Lussac's eyes, which were but a 

 few centimeters (not more than an inch) from the balloon, this time es- 

 caped all injury ; but one of his hands was seriously wounded, and 

 required long and painful treatment. Some persons saw in this terrible 

 wound the original cause of the painful disease to which our friend suc- 

 cumbed a few years afterward. 



The members of the academy, who went daily to visit him on his bed 

 of suffering, heard him with emotion congratulate himself that the 

 wounds of his young friend and assistant, M. Larivifere, were insignifi- 

 cant, and on this occasion his own life alone had been endangered. 



Some have desired to regard these accidents as the consequences of 

 negligence and thoughtlessness ; say, rather, by a comparison whose ap- 

 propriateness will be recognized by all who know our friend, that if he 

 were often wounded it was because he was often under fire, and that 

 he did not hesitate to examine things very closely, even when there 

 was great danger in doing so. It has been thought the successes of 

 Gay-Lussacin his scientific researches only afforded him that calm satis- 

 faction which the discovery of some new truths must naturally produce. 

 Appearances were deceitful. To protect himself from the dampness of 

 the laboratory, which was on the ground floor, Gay-Lussac usually wore 

 sabots over his shoes. Pelouze, one of bis favorite pupils, told me that 

 after the success of an important experiment he had frequently seen 

 him through the half-open door of his study give signs of the liveliest 

 pleasure, and even dance in spite of his clumsy wooden shoes. 



This reminds me of an anecdote which I will borrow from my friend 

 Sir David Brewster, simply, I confess, that it aftbrds me the opportu- 

 nity of connecting the name of Gay-Lussac with that of the immortal 

 scientist of whom Voltaire, without being charged with exaggeration, 

 has said : 



Confidants of the Supreme, creatures of immortal life, 

 Te who burn with fire divine, and your wings with glory rife, 

 Spread around your Master's throne, can you, from your stations high. 

 View great Newton here below undisturbed by jealousy? 

 •• Confidents du Trfes-Haut, substances 6ternelles, 



Qui briilez do sea feux, qui couvrez de vos ailes 

 Le trone oil votre maitre est assis parmi vous, 

 Parlez : du grand Xewton n'6tiez-vou3 point jalous ? 



In 1682 the great Newton, turning into account the dimensions of 

 the earth, obtained by Picard, of this academy, renewed a calculation 



