174 EULOGY ON QUETELET. 



The memoirs presented to the academy were, February 3, 1823, " Ujwn 

 circular conchoids; ^^ November 3, 1825, ^'•Revieic of a new theory of caus- 

 tics foUowed by different applications to the theory of stereoyraphic projec- 

 tions."' These researches attracted the atteutiou of Gergoinie and other 

 distiuguished geometers, aud were particidarly noticed by the illustrious 

 French mathematician, Chasles, after the Correspondence Mat. and Phys. 

 had given them notoriety. We mention two other papers read before 

 the Academy. One, "JL memoir upon some graphical constructions of the 

 planetary orhits,^'' and the other ^'■upon different subjects of yeometry of 

 three dimensions,''^ presented October 28, 1826. 



In 1823 commenced the efforts to found ar observatory* in Belgium. 

 The especial aptitudes of Quetelet pointed him out as the best persou 

 to complete the enterprise, and, thanks to M. Talk, then minister of the 

 Interior, he was commissioned to go to Paris to study the practice of 

 astronomy. His own account of his first visit to the observatory may 

 not be uninteresting : " I arrived at Paris near the close of the year 

 1823, with the prospect of founding an observatory in Belgium, but at 

 the same time with a thorough conviction of my want of knowledge of 

 practical astronomy. I went immediately to the royal observatory, but 

 on entering this building, distinguished by historical associations, I was 

 more than ever oppressed with a sense of my deficiencies. I had not 

 even a letter of introduction to relieve the embarrassment of a first visit. 

 I mounted with sufficient assurance the grand staircase, but when I 

 found myself before the doors of Arago and Bouvard I stood for some 

 time irresolute. I was about to knock at the first, when Bouvard 

 opened his aud came out, on his way to the observing-halls. He asked 

 me what I wanted. I at once told him my history, to which the excel- 

 lent man seemed to listen with interest. He then introduced me to the 

 observing-rooms, into the presenceof the great astronomical instruments, 

 to me a novel and wonderful sight. With great kindness he explained 

 their purpose aud use, and gave me permission to observe whenever I 

 chose to do so. I availed myself of this permission that very evening, 

 and to my surprise was allowed access, freely and alone, to the instru- 

 ments and records of the observatory. I came day after day, aud always 

 with the same confidence accorded ! From time to time the kind Bouvard 

 examined my observations and always with encouraging words. He 

 gradually manifested more and more affection for me, offered to initiate 

 me into the practical calculus of astronomy, and from that time directed 

 all my studies, with a care truly paternal. Not content with these man- 

 ifestations of kindness, he invited me to his house, presented me to his 

 friends, among others to La Place aud Poisson, admitted me to his 

 Friday dinners, and I became in some sort a member of his household." 

 Quetelet remained in Paris several months, and had the honor of being 

 presented to the institute by Alexander von Humboldt. He returned to 

 Brussels on the first of March, 1824. 

 To fit himself still further for the office of director of the new obser- 



