168 MEMOIR OF PELTIER, 



soon assumed a most serious character. From the year 1S44 a fatal issue was 

 feared, although he still had strength suflicient to go into Belgium for the pur- 

 pose of there introducing his various apparatus and his method of observation in 

 meteorology. 



In 1 845 the disease continued to make such progress that it was soon impos- 

 sible not to recognize in it a scirrhous stricture of the intestine; and to this ho 

 soon succumbed. The day before his death, although exhausted by suffeiiug, 

 he was still intent upon science — admitting several persons who came to consult 

 him on the water-spout of IMonville, among whom was jM. Preisser, professor of 

 chemistry at Rouen, with whom he liad a long conversation on the cause of the 

 disasters which had just taken place. In the evening he dictated some lines 

 explaining the twisting which had been observed on the bark of certain trees; the 

 next morning he still retained his consciousness,, but, gradually losing it, died 

 calmly and painlessly at 9 o'clock a. m. on JMonday, October 27, 1845, having 

 attained the age of sixty and a half years. 



Peltier v/as of medium height aiu\ \\ell proportioned ; his build was somewhat 

 spare, and his temperament at the same time bilious and nervous ; his forehead 

 was broad and largely developed ; his face, something thin at the lower part, 

 was extremely mobile, the expression of his features being quick and intelligent, 

 while the contrast between his light bine eyes and heavy black brows gave to 

 his face a most marked ajipearance. His sight was excellent, although some- 

 what impaired towards the last by his use of the microscope ; and he had a deli- 

 cacy of touch which he found invaluable in his manual labors. In an intellect- 

 ual point of view there are few men who have been better endowed ; his con- 

 ception was prompt and facile, and he was at the same time a man of theory and 

 of fact'!, never separating these two — a fact being to him but the round of a lad- 

 der by which he ascended to the cause. It was also often his lot to find in the 

 discoveries of others relations which they had not themselves seen. His passion 

 for study was incredible ; it is impossible to conceive a correct idea of all that he 

 learned and did, bearing throughout that sound, practical mind which so prc-emi- 

 nentl}^ distinguished him. 



In a moral point of view there has been and can be but one voice. It is 

 known with what violence political passions rage, and how the least fault is held 

 tip to public view as a handle against an adversar3\ But his political adversa- 

 ries, even the most bitter, respected and loved him profoundly, for liis probity 

 and loyalty were known and appreciated by all. Peltier had no ambition, or, 

 rather, he had but one, and that was science. In 1834 the prefecture of the 

 Seine offered hirn the mayoralty of the fifth ward of Paris, and he was given to 

 understand that the cross of honor would be the speedy reward of his services 

 in this new capacity ; but he refused. Himself maintaining the most decidedly 

 conservative opinions, he nevertheless could respect the views of his adversaries; 

 and, although he was frequently engaged in oral strife, those even whom he had 

 combatted with the most energy could not leave him without regret. It was, 

 indeed, for every one a day of grief when he died. 



On the 29tli day of October, 1845, a great concourse of savants and friends 

 conducted him to his last home, amidst the universal grief. Among these were 

 MM. Ilegnavilt and Milne Edwards, members of the Academy of Sciences; M. 

 Desbassayns of Richcmont ; Dr. Conneau, ^IM. Bravais and Martins, M. Boutigny 

 d'Evreux, ]\I. L. Breguet, M. Donne, M. Lemercier, M. Frederic Gerard, M. Lesueur, 

 M. Silberman, ]M. Doyere, M. Lassaigne, M. Breon, M. Vec, mayor of the fifth 

 ward ; j\[M. Converchel and Lourmand, who had been his colleagues in the pri- 

 mary committee of instruction; the officers of his old company, and many othera 

 too numerous to mention. 



Arrived at the cemetery of Pere- la-Chaise his body was deposited in a provis- 

 ional vault, and two discourses were pronounced over his tomb — one by JM. Milne 

 Edwards, as president of the Philomathic Society, of which Peltier was a mem- 



