182 EULOGY ON QIIETELET. 



of his works on social statistics be was made, iu 1872. an associate of the 

 section of moral and political sciences of the Institute of France. Ho 

 had long been a corresponding member of this academy. 



He was a member of the Royal Academy of Belgium, as we have said, 

 from 1820, and held the presidency of this learned body from 1832 to 

 1835, and then succeeded M. Dewez as perpetual secretary of its three 

 divisions, science, literature, and tbe fine arts. We have been able to 

 notice only a few of the memoirs inserted in the publications of the 

 academy. The bulletins of each seance are, so to speak, crowded with his 

 articles. One can see, by their inspection, with what care he registered 

 all the remarkable phenomena which presented themselves during his 

 long career. Thanks especially to him, they, as well as the Annuaires and 

 An7ialesoi the Observatory, will always be consulted with profit by those 

 who wish closely to study the aurora borealis, shooting-stars, bolides, 

 storms, earthquakes, and such phenomena, upon which attention is 

 drawn so strongly at the present time, and of which, for tlie most part, 

 a complete theory has not yet been formed. The correspondence which 

 Quetelet had with the oflicial heads of science in different countries 

 contributed greatly to extend the relations of the academy, and to enrich 

 its bulletins. 



The revolution of 1818 was not a surprise to Quetelet; he foresaw that 

 the opposition of Louis Philippe to reforms, not in themselves to be feared, 

 would cause some such catastrophe, but he did not anticipate the effect 

 it would produce all over Europe. His attention, of course, at such a 

 time was turned to politics, and in the month of March he presented to 

 the academy a paper upon the nature of constitutional states, and some 

 principles which may be derived from the consideration of them. Sev- 

 eral other articles were also written by him on political subjects. We 

 know that while other governments were falling, Belgium remained; 

 intact, and while distress and terror were reigning elsewhere, she pre- 

 pared to celebrate the anniversary of her independence. The fete iul 

 honor of the occasion was organized by Quetelet as head of the artistic] 

 and literary circle, and never was a more brilliant entertainment giveaj 

 in Brussels. It evinced not only the good taste of Quetelet, but thoj 

 extent of his inliuence. 



As to the private life of Quetelet, we have said thatiu 1825 he uiar-j 

 ried Mademoiselle Crulet, niece of Professor Van Mons. Two children, 

 a boy and a girl, were the fruit of this union. His mother and a youngj 

 half-sister, who married an artist, M. Madou, formed the rest of hisj 

 household. The children were educated at home. Madame Quetelet] 

 herself taught them to read, and they had a master for writing. Every! 

 Sunday a few friends were invited to dinner, and in the evening the] 

 house was open to visitors. There were conversation, music, and cha- 

 rades. The latter were in great favor, and Quetelet himself often took] 

 l^art in them. Those who knew Quetelet only through his works, orl 

 when enfeebled by age and disease, can have no idea of his gayety,] 

 wit, and cordiality. He thoroughly enjoyed a laugh, and Eabelais was! 



