702 THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE IN 1894. 



which now binds all the academies in common aspirations, onr thoughts 

 naturally revert to those whose death has left among us recent and 

 lamented vacancies. It is our reverent duty, and it fills our heart with 

 inward satisfaction, to give them a heartfelt remembrance by recalling 

 in a few words the works and the accomplishments of our late col- 

 leagues whom death, alas, has taken from us in the course of the year. 

 The Academy of Sciences has suffered most. The list of our losses 

 is headed by a member of the section of rural economy, M. Cham- 

 brelent. Our lamented colleague, whose zealous activity continued to 

 the last hour of his life, combined the highest knowledge of engineer- 

 ing with all the <iualities of these daring pioneers of civilization, who 

 undertake a struggle with the forces of nature and often discover in 

 those blind and apparently dreadful agents fresh elements of fertility 

 for the soil and of comfort for the people. A great part of his life was 

 devoted to works of that kind, such as the erection of protecting dams 

 in the Camargue, so frecpiently laid waste by the waves of the sea, the 

 removal of torrents in the Alps, the protection of forests against fire, 

 the digging of canals. But his chief performance, for which his mem- 

 ory will endure forever in the agricultural history of our country, was 

 the reclaiming and replanting of the Landes. Nearly the whole of 

 the vast territory, covering nearly 1,975,000 acres, which lies between 

 the Bay of Biscay and the valleys of the Garonne and the Adour, had 

 been for centuries unfit for cultivation and proof against civilization. 

 In that immense desert, covered in winter with stagnant and noxious 

 water, none but a lew wandering shepherds, doomed victims of fever 

 and destitution, were ever seen. 



A few cases, widely separated, were the only excei^tions. Chambre- 

 lent engaged in a i^ersevering investigation of the causes which had 

 allowed a few favored spots to overcome the natural barrenness of the 

 soil. He had no sooner begun active service in the corps of pouts and 

 chaussees (bridges and causeways) than he found the most simi)le and 

 cheapest solution of that great problem. But the remainder of his life 

 was spent in securing its application. It was no easy task, and Cliam- 

 brelent had to fight manifold obstacles. The incredulity of the inhabit- 

 ants whose faith had been blighted by the failure of preceding attemi^ts, 

 the spirit of reluctance in more enlightened circles, the mistrust an<l 

 indolence which were opposed to his schemes bj^ the executive author- 

 ities, all this seemed likely to subdue the most powerful will, the most 

 indomitable perseverance. But nothing could shake the robust faith 

 of this remarkable man, whose modest and affable manner concealed a 

 manly and energetic soul. 



Forsaken by all, Chambrelent resolved to teach the lesson of example 

 and to furnish, at his own expense, an irrefutable demonstration. lie 

 purchased an extensive portion of land in one of the most desolate spots 

 of the country. In a few years the application of his device, so siinj)le 

 and so easy of execution, was crowned with signal success ; that barren 



