170 



MEMOIR OF PELTIER. 



and each time that the public journals announced the success of repuhlican 

 arms, his wounded national 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 hut little knowledge, Athanase, impatient of a 

 yoke which nettled his 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 

 W'ith that naive confidence so precious an accompaniment of youth, and asked 

 to be employed in his workshop. Struck 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 few years later, the young horologer of 

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

 with his most important works. 



"Fortime smiling on his persevering efforts, Athanase became himself head of 

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

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

 ofl' from general knowledge, could not satisfy him ; and so occupied himself 

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

 grave and meditative cast of mind. 



''Married in 1806, 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 public 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 with giant strides all difficulties, the modest partner 

 of the labors of Breguet could soon compete with those who had commenced 

 their life with study, and could discuss with them the most abstruse 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 accommodate liim- 

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

 hence he was not lon^ in abandoniuQ- the situation to return to his favorite 

 studies with 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 irrevocably determined ; 

 he occupying himself exclusively with mathematics, physics, and natural his- 

 tory. He brought to bear on these studies a cool, clear mind, a sound and severe 

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

 ties rarely found united in one man ; to which he added a skill in handicraft 

 and a precision which, acquired as they w-ere in his earliest years, enabled him 

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

 by their use. He loved to repeat and explain the experiments in pln-sics at 

 which he had assisted ; and, novice at first, he very soon became skilful in 

 handling the most delicate instruments. He now also began to give his whole 

 attention to the study 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, 

 multiplying his observations, varying them incessantly, and perfecting constantly 

 the means of investigation. 



" 1830 found him laboriously occupied on these matters, without one single 

 line having appeared in public to reveal his severe and profound studies. At this 

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

 and, seizing it, he treated it with that accuracy of judgment which announces a 

 man habituated to the severest labors of the mind. From 1833 to 1845 was 



