126 MEMOIR OF DELAMBRE. 
though he might easily have obtained it, but with the sole purpose of prefect- 
ing his own knowledge. a 
Living thus apart and unnoticed, yet free and happy, he knew or indulged 
no passion but that for study. His time, the only property he could call his 
own, was secured to him; no importunate visitor appropriated his leisure; his 
talents gathered strength and expansion daily for the future service of astronomy 
and letters. Solitude may thus become an inspiration for genius; it exalts 
the thoughts, dissipates the desire for sudden and vulgar notoriety, and prepares 
the way for works worthy to be the admiration of after ages. ; 
The extraordinary merit of Delambre, the habitual mildness of his character, 
the determination with which he applied himself to a revisal of his whole pre- 
vious course of study, at length attracted attention. As he had beea advised 
to give some years to teaching, he repaired with this purpose to Compicegne, but 
remained there only a short time. ‘The resources of the capital had become 
indispensab e to his plan of study, and returning to Paris, he entered on the 
same course of life as before; this time, indeed, with some additional advantages 
which he could no longer decline with prudence, and which soon secured him a 
settled and independent position. It was now that Delambre first felt himself 
irresistibly impelled to a scientific career. Without neglecting literature and 
history, he explored the theories of mathematics, and applied himself assiduously 
to the study of astronomy and physics. A fidelity to his purpose formed at all 
times a distinctive characteristic of his genius. No one ever threw into his 
pursuits more of the spirit of sequence, or traversed with more constancy the 
vast field of human attainments. 
When he presented himself at the college of France to hear the lessons of 
Lalande, he had already studied the works of that astronomer, and had even 
written commentaries upon them. Here he first attracted notice by reciting, on 
an occasion which casually offered itself, an entire passage from the Greek poet 
Aratus, which he illustrated by the criticisms of various annotators. Lalande 
naturally felt curious to know in what manner his own treatise of astronomy 
had been annotated by so accomplished a student, nor could he long remain 
in doubt as to the value of this new acquisition to the interests of science. From 
that time he regarded Delambre as a fellow-laborer; dissuaded him from a use- » 
less attendance on the public lessons, and associating him with his own private 
labors, confided to him the most difficult astronomical calculations. He induced 
Mon. Dassy, whose son had previously received lessons from Delambre, to 
establish a private observatory at his hotel. Here, being provided with the 
necessary instruments, Delambre entered on a course of the most extensive 
observation and research ; digested a plan for reforming all the astronomical 
tables, and may be said to have conseerated his life to the study and description 
of the heavens. ‘This destination had presented itself to his mind at Compiégne, 
and was originally suggested by a physician of that place—a man of learning, 
who was the confidant of Delambre’s studies, and had remarked his extraordi- 
nary turn for earnest and continuous occupation. Lalande, who knew no dis- 
tinction between his own interests and those of the science he cultivated, sought 
the acquaintance of the individual who had given this judicious advice, and 
thanked him in terms to which no personal obligation could have imparted 
greater warmth.* 
It remains now to indicate the important researches to which Delambre ap- 
plied himself, and which constituted his title to a placein the Academy of Sciences. 
Herschel, about this time, had observed on the extreme confines of the planetary 
world an orb till then unknown—a brilliant discovery, which afforded a new 
proof of the truth of the modern theories of physics. ‘This planet was found to 
* Lalande, in allusion to his own part in directing the studies of Delambre, was accus- 
tomed boasting!y to style the latter his best work. —TRANSLATOR. 
7 
— Le 
