MEMOIR OF PELTIER. 159 



apprcnticcsliip to a Gcnnan named Brown, wlio liad Leen taken pl•i^^one^ at tbo 

 time of the first campaigns of the repnhlic, and had subsequently estahlisLed 

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

 young apjirentice 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 ; tho 

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

 ([ucst of Italy ; and the year of Marengo and Ilohcnlinden. Every day that 

 the pajjcr brought news of a victory — and at that time this was of fre(]uent occur- 

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

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

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

 some little time Peltier, the day's work being done, w^ould 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 procm-ed the coveted light 

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

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

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

 by stealth. This, 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. 



Peltier had l)een two years in Saint Quentin. On leaving this place he went 

 to Paris, where he became apprentice to a clockmaker by name of Mctra, wdio 

 himself worked for the celebiated Brequet. This was at the close of 1802. 



The father of Peltier, A\ho 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. 

 Compelled to suffer many privations, Peltier appealed several times to his father; 

 luit 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, wdio came in tears to find his son and carry him back to his native 

 country, wdiere 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 ottering ships, 

 frigates, and oven boats for the public service. 



Peltier could oflcr nothing, being without means, but he coidd 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 

 schooi at Brest. Xor Avas this all ; for, not content with his own intentions 

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

 the array with himself. For a while all went smoothly ; but as the fatal hour 

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

 moment arrived, Peltier found himself successively abandoned by his proposed 

 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 subject. Ilis mother, learning his 



