Maiquii Dc Laplace. 379 



bute to its perspicuit}', and render the perusal of it more easy. 

 The work is a perfectly regular exposition of the results of pro- 

 found study: it is an ingenious epitome of the principal disco- 

 veries. Tlie precision of its style, the choice of methods, the 

 greatness of the subject, give a singular interest to this vast pic- 

 ture ; but its real utility is to recall to geometers those theorems 

 whose tlemonstrations were already known to them. It is pro- 

 perly speaking the contents of a mathematical treatise. 



The purely iiistorical works of Laplace have a different 

 object. They present to geometers with admirable talent the 

 progress of the human mind in the invention of the sciences. 

 The most abstract theories have indeed an innate beauty of 

 expression. It is this wliich strikes us in several of the treatises 

 of Descartes, and in some of the pages of Galileo, of New- 

 ton, and Lagrange. Novelty of views, elevation of thought, 

 and tlieir connection with the grand objects of nature, fix the 

 attention and fill the mind. It is sufficient that the style be 

 pure, and have a noble simplicity. It is this kind of literature 

 that Laplace has chosen, and it is certain that he has attained 

 in it the first rank. If he writes the histoiy of great astronomi- 

 cal discoveries, he becomes a model of elegance and precision. 

 No leading fact ever escapes him : the expression is never ob- 

 scure or ambiguous. Whatever he calls great is great in reality. 

 Whatever he omits does not deserve to be cited. 



M. Laplace retained to a very advanced age that extraordi- 

 nary memory which he had exhibited from his earliest years ; a 

 precious gift, which, though it is not genius, is that which serves 

 to acquire and preserve it. Lie had not cultivated the fine 

 arts, but he appreciated them. He was fond of Italian music 

 and of the poetry of Racine, and he often took delight in quo- 

 ting I'rom memory dilTerent passages of this great poet. Tlie 

 works of Raphael adorned his apartments, and they were found 

 beside the ]iortraits of Descartes, Francis Vieta, Newton, 

 Galileo and Eulcr. 



Laplace had always accustomed himself to a very light diet, 

 and lie diminished tiie (juantity of it continually, and even to 

 an excessive degree. I lis very ilelicate sight rcc]uired con- 

 stant cure, and he succeeded in preserving it without any alte- 

 ration. 'I'hese cares about himself had only one object, that 

 of reserving all his lime and all his strength lor the labours of 

 his mind. lie lived lor the sciences, anil the sciences have 

 rendered his memory immortal. 



He had contracted the habit of" excessive ap])licntlon to 

 study, so injurious to health, though so necessary to j)rofoun(l 

 iiKjuiries ; but he <lid n()tcx|)erit-nce from it any inconvenience 

 till duiin.'^; the two la>"l years of his lilii". 



3C2 At 



