158 THE AGE OF ELECTRICITY, 



the wLole surface of tlie eartli. "Better," said he, "ascertain focts iu 

 all ])arts at one time during the year tlian to keep up for a whole cen- 

 tury a few scattered observations." Besides, these movements undergo 

 changes in each region according to local conditions, so that the gen- 

 eral manifestations of the climate, the course of rainfall and of tem- 

 perature recjuire a system of interde[)endeut observations. Leverrier 

 leaves nothing undone. He bespeaks the cooperation of foreign observ- 

 atories for the forecast service, that of seafaring men for the meteoro- 

 logical observations on the ocean, that of all willing contributors for a 

 knowledge of all the i)articulars of climate in France. We have inher- 

 ited the responsible duty of continuing this part of his work, and have 

 hardly anything better to do than to follow up his X)rogramme. Would 

 that we could fultill it. 



In one respect Leverrier is specially entitled to our gratitude. He 

 f<»unde<l, in 18(!4, the Association Scientifi(|ue, an efflcient organiza- 

 tion which, after long prosperity, finally consolidated with ours, a new- 

 comer, so as to constitute a compact union of scientists and of friends 

 of science from all parts. 



I again tind here occasion to speak of one of your fellow-townsmen. 

 In ISoU an association of men, moved by the spirit of j^rogress, and of 

 which de Caumont was the most active member, wished to place on the 

 footing of i)ermanent organization certain scientific congresses that 

 had already met regularly for a number of years, and drafted the con- 

 stitution of an institute of the provinces whose object was to include 

 all men of letters and of science whose long labors had won for them 

 a well-deserved renown. In the minds of its founders, that society 

 Avas to be the soul of the acadennc movement in France and the depart- 

 ments. They expected to fulfill tliat part by multiplying calls for con- 

 gresses, by establishing closer relations between local societies and 

 academies, thus leading them to greater uniformity in their work and 

 publications so as to unite for the same ends the large amount of power 

 scattered all over the soil of France. 



De (laumont was indefatigable. He recklessly spent his time and 

 his own fortune. The very plan of the undertaking did perhaps con- 

 tain germs of weakness for the future, but the scheme Mas a generous 

 one, and although they never met with any of the encouragement they 

 might have anticipated, the founders were largely instrumental in 

 arousing scientific activity in the tlepartments. Their efforts have 

 been successful, for it cannot be denied that the committee of scientific 

 societies, now a dependency of the ministry of public instruction, the 

 annual meetings of the Sorbonne, the congresses of the late scientific 

 association and the sittings of the French Association are carrying 

 out under various forms the several parts of the vast programme that 

 the Institute of the Provinces had set up for itself. After holding its 

 own for thirty-four years, the Institute of the Provinces made way for 

 the I'rench Association, which aimed at the same ends with better 

 means of action and better security for the future. 



