148 EULOGY ON AMPERE. 



Hercules, and each succeeding week, like Anteus in the fable, he would 

 be found prepared to sustain a new contest, not, however, without 

 having changed ground, though very slightly and skillfnlly between the 

 successive assaults. 



In order to assume that Ampere considered this contest an ostenta- 

 tious tourney without consequences, it would be necessary to .admit, 

 contrary to all reason and probability, that voluntarily closing his eyes, 

 he did not perceive that even blunted weapons in Cuvier's hands could 

 inflict painful wounds. We will hasten to announce that Ampere was 

 fnlly conscious of how formidable was his adversary; and ifin spite of 

 this, he continued his course, it was to fulfill what he considered a con- 

 scientious duty. In July, 1824, our associate sent to the press, but with- 

 out giving his name to the publication, a theory of the organization of 

 articulated animals. In this work, after making himself master of a 

 single type, he followed it up amidst a thousand disguises, through the 

 multitude of species of which the animal kingdom is composed. He 

 sought, for example, how the fragile butterfly could be traced to the 

 clumsy toad, the toad to the colossal whale. The criticisms of Cuvier 

 were then addressd as well to Ampere as to the jihilosophers of nature 

 or Geoflroy Saint Hilaire; and our friend decided to sacrifice all personal 

 feelings totha interests of science and surrender the privileges of anonym- 

 ity. He fullfilled this obligation without bitterness, but with firmness; he 

 utterly disregarded the many annoyances incident to the position forced 

 upon him by circumstances, and allowed nothing to turn him from his 

 purpose, not even what Frenchmen dread the most, ridicule. 



1 still remember a dialogue that took place on one occasion, in my 

 presence, between M. Ampere and an academician, who was the declared 

 adversary of the unity of structure, and whose witty sallies were not 

 only dreaded by his antagonists but often by his friends also. I will 

 rei-ite the beginning : 



"Well, M. Ampere, do you hold, from an anatomical point of view, 

 that Master Crow perched on a tree, did not differ from the crafty, cun- 

 ning animal who carried oft' his cheese ; and do you believe that 



' The heron ^vith the long beak set upon the long neck, ' 

 is but a simple modification of the gossip carp he so foolishly disdained 

 to eat for his dinner f And again, do you think the fabler was guilty of 

 a heresy in natural history when he said : 



'A rat to prove he was no elephant, 



Came out of his cage in less than an instant?'" 



"Yes, sir; yes," said Ampere, "I admit as facts all you have just 

 enumerated as impossibilities. Further details on the subject would be 

 superfluous. After the most conscientious studj^, I shall remain firm to 

 a principle, apparently singular, but which time will establish ; to the 

 principle that man is formed after a model found in all the animal cre- 

 ation, without one single excej)tion." 



"Wonderful, M. Ampere, your theory has one rare and incontestable 



