170 MEMOIR OF PELTIER. 



and each time that the pnlilic journals announced the success of republican 

 arms, his wounded iiational pride vented itself upon his pupil, who experienced 

 a malicious pleasure in informing* him of the reverses of the German hordes. 

 As he ofiered to the eager lad but little knowledge, Athanase, impatient of a 

 yoke which nettled liis pride, ran away and went to Paris. 



''This was in 1803, when Breguet held in this city the sceptre of elevated 

 horology. Peltier, having heard of his fame, presented himself before him 

 with that naive confidence so precious an accompaniment of youtli, and asked 

 to be employed in his workshop. Strack with the frank and open manner of 

 the young Picard, the great mechanic granted his request, and placed him under 

 one of his most skilful workmen. A lew years later, the young horologer of 

 Ham was promoted to a place under Breguet himself, and very soon intrusted 

 with his most imjiortant works. 



"Fortune smiling on his persevering efforts, Athanase Ijccame himself head of 

 an establishment of horology. Until that time he had applied his intellect to 

 the stud}' only of mechanics ; but he then began to feel that this branch, cut 

 oft' from general knowledge, could not satisfy him ; and so occupied liimsclf 

 with literature, poetry, and philosophy ; this last science especially suiting his 

 grave and meditative cast of mind. 



"Married in 1S06, and becoming a father two years later, he formed the reso- 

 lution of himself directing his son's education. This was for him the beginning 

 of a new life. Without neglecting his business, he attended the pid)lic courses, 

 and devoured the lessons of the great masters with the eagerness of a spirit 

 impatient of all trammels. Gifted with a perspicacity equalled only by his 

 perseverance, overcoming Avith giant strides all difficulties, the modest partner 

 of the laV)ors of Breguet could soon compete with those who had commenced 

 their life with study, and could discuss with them the most abstru?;e points in 

 science. 



'•At the close of 1815 he quitted his establishment and succeeded his father- 

 in-law, who had been farrier to the Emperor ; but the feebleness of his health, 

 and his extreme fondness for study would not permit him to acconunodate him- 

 self to a profession which requires more of physical force than of mental ; and 

 hence he was not long in abandoning the situation to return to his favorite 

 studies Avith renewed zeal. 



" In a short time the son of M. Peltier, under the intelligent direction of his 

 father, began to study seriously, and designed himself for the profession of medi- 

 cine. Thenceforth the career of the elder Peltier Avas irrcA^ocably determined ; 

 lie occupying himself exclusiA^el}^ Avith mathematics, physics, and natural his- 

 tory. He brought to bear on these studies a cool, clear mind, a soimd and se\"ero 

 judgment and a fertility of resources which characterize the observer ; quali- 

 ties rarely found united in one man ; to Avhich he added a skill in handici'aft 

 and a precision Avhich, acquired as they Avere in his earliest years, enabled him 

 to make his own instruments, and to add to others the modifications necessitated 

 by their use. He loA^ed to repeat and explain the experiments in physics at 

 Avhich he had assisted; and, novice at first, he A'cry soon l)ecame skilful in 

 handling the most delicate instntments. He now also began to gWo his Avhole 

 attention to the sttidy of electrical phenomena. 



'' He for a long time followed assiduously, but in silence, the sittings of the 

 Academy of Sciences ; meditating deeply on problems in electricity, repeating, 

 multipl\-ing his obserA7itit)ns, A'arying them incessantly, and perfecting constantly 

 the means of investigation. 



" 1830 found him laboriously occupied on these matters, Avithout one single 

 line having appeared in public to rcA'cal his severe and profoimd studies. At this 

 time the question of dry batteries Avas much discussed ; this subject roused him, 

 and, seizing it, he treated it Avith that accuracy of judgment Avhich announces a 

 man habituated to the severest labors of the mind. Prom 1833 to 1845 Avas 



