MEMOIR OF PELTIER. 159 



apprenticeship to a German named Brown, ^vlio Lad been taken prisoner at tlio 

 time of tlie lirst campaigns of the rcpul)lic, and had snhsequently established 

 himself at Saint Qiientin. In character he was brutal and passionate, and the 

 A^oung apprentice had much to suffer from his cruel treatment. This natural 

 violence of character too was much increased by the condition of the political 

 world at that time ; for Brown, loving his own country to fanaticism, most 

 keenly desired the success of the Austrian arms. This was in 1800 ; the 

 moment of the glorious campaign of Moreau into Germany, and the second con- 

 quest of Italy ; and the year of Marengo and Hohenlinden. Every day that 

 the paper brought news of a victory — and at that time this was of frequent occur- 

 rence — there was redoubled bad treatment and vexation for Peltier. Nor was 

 this all : Brown, who himself had no fondness for study, refused to his appren- 

 tice this privilege, and this was an additional means of tormenting him. For 

 some little time ]-'eltier, the day's work being done, would read in his chamber 

 by the light of the candle furnished him ; but Brown, discovering this, forbade 

 the use of one. By the strictest economy he now procured the coveted light 

 from his own scanty means, and continued to read at night ; but this also was 

 prohibited. Forced to yield, Peltier at length watched for the nights when the 

 moon shone clear, and opening his window softly, would thus read a few pages 

 by stealth. Tliis, too, Brown managed to prevent. Apprised of these facts, 

 Peltier's father withdrew his son from this uncongenial domicile and succeeded 

 shortly afterwards in dissolving the connection. 



I'eltier had been two years in Saint Quentin. On leaving this place he went 

 to Paris, where he became apprentice to a clockmaker by name of Metra, who 

 himself worked for the celebrated Brequet. This W'as at the close of 1802. 



The father of Peltier, who had never been to Paris and had no idea of the 

 expense of living there, only allowed his son one franc a day for his support. 

 "With this pitiful sum the poor boy was to provide himself with board and lodging. 

 Con)pelled to suffer many privations, Peltier appealed several times to his father; 

 but he, judging Paris by his own little town, imagined the increase of allowance 

 demanded by his son to be meant solely for indulgence in pleasure, and refused. 

 Peltier very soon became seriously ill ; and, hurt at the want of confidence 

 manifested by his father, forbade his friends to write to him, resolving to aban- 

 don himself to his illness and to die without informing his parents of his condi- 

 tion. Fortunately his friends took no notice of his prohibition, and wrote to 

 his father, who came in tears to find his son and carry hini l)ack to his native 

 country, where he soon recovered. 



On his return to Paris, Peltier set himself to work at clockmaking with more 

 ardor than ever. At the close of 1803, however, he was for a while diverted 

 from his peaceful occupations by other and entirely new ideas. 



The peace of Amiens had lasted but a short while, and war with England 

 had been speedily rekindled ; a universal enthusiasm reigned throughout France; 

 departments, cities, corporations, all vied with each other in offering ships, 

 frigates, and even boats for the public service. 



Peltier could offer nothing, being without means, but he could give his life, 

 and he resolved to enter the navy. Not wishing, however, to engage as a com- 

 mon sailor, he worked incessantly in the hope of being received into the naval 

 school at Brest. Nor was this all ; for, not content with his own intentions 

 towards his country, he recruited three of his comrades and bound them to join 

 the army with himself. For a while all W"ent smoothly- ; but as the fatal hour 

 approached, the courage of the three comrades waned ; and when the decisive 

 moment arrived, I'cltier found himself successively abandoned by liis proj)Osed 

 companions, and left to execute his designs alone ; this he would certainly have 

 done but for a circumstance which he had not foreseen. In order to enter the 

 naval school at Brest, it was necessary to obtain the consent of his parents ; 

 and he had already written them on this sul^ject. His mother, learning his 



