140 MEMOIR OF LEGENDRE. 



attraction of a spheroid on any exterior point, it suffices to cause tlie surface of 

 another spheroid described from the same foci as the first to pass by that point, 

 the illustrious reporter closed his remarks as follows : 



The theorem which forms the principal object of these two memoirs is highly interesting. 

 It is a new step taken in the theory of attractions of spheroids : the analysis is very able, is 

 presented moreover with much elegance and clearness, and announces in its author distin- 

 guished talent. We think, therefore, that these memoirs merit the approbation of the Academy, 

 and should be printed in the Collection of foreign savants. 



After the conclusions drawn in their report, which were adopted by t»lie Academy, 

 the commissioners further added : 



Besides the two memoirs of which we have just rendered an account, M. Logendre has 

 presented to the Academy at different times memoirs on the resolution of intermediate equa- 

 tions of the second degree, and on the properties of continual fractions; on several problems 

 of probabilities ; on the summation of continual fractions, and on the rotation of bodies, 

 which are not quickened by any accelerative force. All these memoirs have been esteemed 

 worthy of being printed among those of foreign savants. Finally, M. Legendre has borne 

 off the prize last proposed by the Academy of Berlin on balistics, or the movement of pro- 

 jectiles. 



Thus the reporters made incidentally a complete statement of the academic 

 titles of M. Legendre, nor was this done without intention, l\>r there was an 

 election at hand in the class of mechanics. The journals inform us in effect 

 that, at the following session of the 19th March, (the Academy then met twice 

 a week,) MM. Coulomb, Bossut, Le Roy, and Cousin also made a report on two 

 memoirs of M. Perier; the first containing a description of a steam-pump, which 

 the latter had just constructed at Chaillot to raise the waters of the Seine, upoii 

 the principles of MM. "Watt and Bolton ; and the second in relation to another 

 pump, which the same engineer had erected at that place, after ideas of his own. 

 These works, with which every one is now familiar, appeared to the Parisian 

 population t)f that day a marvel of a wholly novel kind. The learned reporters 

 concluded by saying: 



We think that the two memoirs of which we render an account, in which the author 

 describes in a simple and lucid manner a steam mechanism of his own invention, as well as 

 that of MM. Watt and Boitou, deserve the approbation of the Academy, and should be 

 included in the Collection of foreign savants. 



At this sitting the Academy likewise received a favorable report from MM. 

 Desmarest, Tillet, Coulomb, and Monge on a memoir of M. Duhamcl, corre- 

 spondent of the Academy and inspector general of mines, relative to a new instru- 

 ment for determining the intersection of lodes. The journal goes on to inform 

 us that at this same sitting the members of the class of mechanics presented 

 MM. Legendre, Meunier, Perier, Duhamel, and Defer; that tlie first voices were 

 for M. Legendre, and the second for 31. Perier. It was the manner of expressing 

 at that time the votes of the Academy, which was composed of four kinds of 

 members : honoraries, of whom few were present at the sittings ; pensionaries, 

 associates, and adjuncts, to whom were sometimes added supernumerary adjuncts. 

 Among the names of academicians who took part in the scrutiny of the 19th of 

 ]\Lirch, 1783, we remark those of MM. Cassinide Thury, d'Alembert, Lavoisier, 

 Lalande, Daubenton, Borda, Bezout, the Marquis Condorcet, Bailly, Rochon, 

 Monge, Berthollet, de Jussieu, Tessier, and several other celebrated savants, a 

 part of whom will be remembered by some who hear me, as having, at a later period, 

 occupied with themselves the benches of the Institute. 



In the sitting of the 2d April, the perpetual secretary (Condorcet) read the 

 following letter of M. Amelot, dated from Versailles, 30th March, 1783 : 



I have the honor of informing you that the King has nominated M. Legendre to the place 

 of adjunct of the Academy of Sciences, vacant in the class of mechanics by the nomination 

 of M. de Laplace to a place of associate, and that his Majesty has also thought proper to 

 name M. Perier to a place of supernumerary adjunct in the same class. 



I have supposed that, in reverting to the first brilliant successes of M. Legendre, 

 it would perhaps be agreeable to my auditors to carry back their thoughts for a 



