210 



condorcet: a biography. 



At that time, with very few exceptions, savans, mathematicians 

 especially, were regarded by the world as beiugs of a separate order of 

 nature. They should, it was thought, like ecclesiastics, be interdicted 

 the concert, the ball, the play. A geometer who married was considered 

 as infringing upon a priuci[)le of right. Celibacy seemed the obliga- 

 tory condition of whoever devoted himself to the sublime theories of 

 analysis. Was this mistake altogether on the side of the public 1 Were 

 not the geometers themselves instrumental in promoting such views ? 

 Listen, gentlemen, and judge for yourselves. 



D'Alembert receives indirectly Irom Berlin the information that 

 Lagrange is about to give his name to one of his young relatives. lie 

 is somewhat astonished that a friend with whom he is in correspondence 

 has told him nothing of such intentions. This does not, however, pre- 

 vent him from mentioning the matter in a bantering way. "I learn," 

 he writes on the 21st of September, 17G7, " that you have made what 

 we philosophers call the perilous leap. * * * A great mathematician 

 ought above all things to know how to calculate his own happiness. I 

 do not doubt, then, that, having made this calculation, you find mar- 

 riage to be the solution." Lagrange responds in this singular manner: 

 " I do not know whether I have calculated well or ill, or rather whether 

 I have calculated at all, * * * or I may be like Leibnitz, who, by 

 force of reflection, never could come to a determination. I must confess 

 to you that I have never had a taste for marriage, * * * [)ut cir- 

 cumstances have decided me * * * to engage one of my relatives 

 * * * to come and take care of me and all that C(mcerus me. If I 

 have not informed you of this it was because it seemed to me a matter 

 of so little importance in itseli that it was not worth while to trouble 

 you with it." 



The marriage of Condorcet would also have appeared to me a matter 

 of 110 importance, and not worth mentioning in this biography, it it had 

 been, as d'Alembert suggests, the result of a calculation. On the con- 

 trary, without calculation of any kind, but solely in obedience to the 

 inspirations of a feeling heart, Condorcet had the happiness to find a 

 companion worthy of him. The beauty, grace, and wit of Madame de 

 Condorcet formed a sort of miracle. The most decided adversaries of 

 marriage among the savans, especially the mother of the Duke de La 

 Eochefoucauld, the respected Duchess d'Anville, yielded so far as to say 

 to our former secretary, " We pardon you." 



Condorcet as a politician — A member or the municipality 

 or Paris — Commissioner of the National Treasury' — Member 

 OP THE Legislative Assembly — Member op the Convention — 



His VOTE IN THE TRIAL OP LOUIS XVI. 



We now enter into a series of considerations and events of a totally 

 different nature from those whi'jh have hitherto occupied our attention. 



