CONDORCET: A BIOGRAPHY. 



By M. Arago. 



[Translated for the Smithsonian Institution by M. A. Henry. ] 

 INTEODUCTION. 



During the latter years of his life, George Cuvier consented to spare 

 a few moments from his immortal researches to make some notes for 

 the benefit of his future biographers. One of these notes commences 

 thus : " I have written so many eulogies, that it Is not presumptions to 

 suppose that some one will write mine." This remark of the illustrious 

 naturalist has reminded me that the last secretary of the old Academy 

 of Sciences, himself the author of fifty-four biographies of academicians 

 equally remarkable for their conception and their expression, has not 

 yet received in this assembly the tribute which on many accounts is 

 justly his due. The fact that we have owed this debt to his memory 

 half a century is only a more powerful reason that it should be discharged 

 without further delay. Oar eulogies, as our memoirs, should have truth 

 for their foundation and their object. But truth in regard to public men 

 is difficult to attain, particularly when their lives have been passed in 

 the midst of political storms. I therefore earnestly appeal to the few 

 contemporaries of Oondorcet whom death has spared, for correction of 

 any error I may have made in spite of my careful efforts. 



It has perhaps been observed that I have called my article a biog- 

 raphy and not as usual an liistorical eulogy. It is in fact a detailed biog- 

 raphy I have the honor to present to the Academy. Without desiring 

 to establish a precedent for future secretaries, I will explain how in this 

 instance the old form did not fulfil the enci I desired. 



Condorcet was no ordinary academician devoted alone to the labors 

 of the closet: a speculative philosopher, and a citizen of unbiased judg- 

 ment, — his life, his public and private conduct, and his works, were in- 

 fluential in literary, economical, and political associations. No one suf- 

 fered more from the instability of public favor, jealousy, and fanat- 

 icism, — those three terrible scourges of reputation. In sketching a 

 portrait, which it is my duty to render as faithful as possible, I cannot 

 pretend to claim belief on mere assertion. It is not enough that for 

 every characteristic feature I have endeavored with the greatest care 

 to assure my own mind that my impressions are correct; I must enable 

 the public to intelligently decide between the prevailing judgment and 

 my own ; it is necessary, therefore, to carefully examine and combat 



180 



