EULOGY OX AMPERE. 131 



iiiy wide general izatious from minute detail muvst have distiuguislied 

 bis metaphysical researches, since it shone with such brilliancy in 

 works on physical mathematics the most solid, or, if you prefer, the 

 most generally recognized and the most indisputable foundation of his 

 scientific fame at the present day. Ampere, in metaphysics, as nearly as 

 the subject would permit, approximated to the exj^erimental method. It 

 certainly is not from his mouth that proceeded those incredible words 

 attributed to a psychologist, " I despise you as I do a fact." 



He, on the contrary, held facts in the highest fiivor. He showed great 

 fertility in combining them with his theories. When, though rarely his 

 efforts in this line were fruitless, theories were immediately changed or 

 abandoned. Amongst my hearers there are probably some to whom 

 these words will recall both the first ideas of our associate on the instinct 

 of animals and the manner in which he modified them. The cu^cum- 

 stances of this sudden change seem to merit being preserved. 



Among the most prominent of the many vexed metaphysical ques- 

 tions is, whether animals possess the powers of reasoning, or are solely 

 guided by instinct — a question which will, perhaps, be better understood 

 by presenting it in these terms: Must we, with Aristotle, concede only 

 feeling and memory to the brute creation ? Is it true they are without 

 the faculty of comparing their actions and drawing conclusions ? Am- 

 pere, avowing himself on this point a decided peripatetic, in the pres- 

 ence of several of his friends, one of them related, in opposition to his 

 views, the following anecdote : 



" Being overtaken one night, not far from Montpelier, by a violent 

 storm, I took refuge in an inn, in the first village I found on my road. 

 The death of a lean chicken was the immediate result of this unex- 

 pected visit. The cook, placing the almost fleshless fowl on the spit 

 immediately tried to seize a tenier, which, when introduced into a 

 rotatory drum of quite large dimensions, under the mantel-piece, was to 

 perform the office of moving the combinations of weights, springs, and 

 cogged wheels now found in the humblest kitchen, but then, in the 

 center of France, a great rarity. The terrier absolutely refused to per- 

 form the duty assigned him ; he would yield neither to blows, threats, 

 nor caresses. So much firmness, resolution, and courage attracting my 

 attention, I inquired if the poor beast were making his first trial. 

 Poor beast ! some one replied, ill-naturedly and roughly, he does not 

 deserve your pity, on my faith ; for such scenes take place every day. 

 Do you know why this fine gentleman refuses to turn the spit*? Because 

 he has decided, in his head, that he and his comrade must divide the 

 labors of roasting exactly regularly between them. I now remem- 

 ber he was the last to turn the spit, and he now concludes this is not his 

 turn to worJc. 



"The words, it is not his turn now, seemed to me to include a world of 

 meaning. At my request the stable-boy was sent iuto the street to 

 fetch the second dog. This one showed the most exemplary docility j 



