1818.] M. de Morveau. 407 



a few simple, short, and convenient names for some of the sup- 

 posed simple bodies, and the strenuous and successful exertions 

 which he made to naturalize in France both the principle and the 

 practice. 



Two years before the date of the above-mentioned paper, 

 M. Morveau published a translation into French, with notes, of 

 the Opuscida Chemica, &c. of Bergman ; he also contributed 

 his valuable superintendence of the translation of Scheele's 

 essays by Madame Picardet, and of a number of memoirs by 

 foreign chemists, which, about this time, enriched the pages of 

 the Journal de Physique. He also, with what success we are 

 not informed, established a manufactory of soda from the decom- 

 position of common salt by a process detailed by Scheele in one 

 of his essays. 



The publication of the first volume of the chemical part of the 

 Encyclopedic Methodique, which now took place, completely 

 justified the high expectations of the chemical world. The 

 articles acide, adhesion, ajfinite, contain a vast fund of informa- 

 tion, clearly detailed and drawn up in that truly equitable and 

 philosophic spirit which ensures the permanent value of this 

 volume as an historical record, although for practical use it has 

 now become even obsolete. What the reasons were which 

 induced M. Morveau so soon to discontinue his connexion with 

 this work we are not informed ; whatever they were, however, 

 their consequences are much to be regretted. 



The high character for integrity and abilities which had been 

 acquired by M. Morveau in his practice as a barrister and a 

 magistrate, drew him again into public life on the breaking out 

 of the French revolution. He was first employed in organizing 

 the department of the Cote d'Or, and was subsequently elected 

 a member of the second National Assembly, and was appointed 

 Solicitor General of his department. At this period, his residence 

 in Paris becoming necessary, he resigned the chemical chair in 

 the university of Dijon to his friend Dr. Chaussier, and esta- 

 blished himself in the metropolis. In 1794 he was nominated 

 Professor of Chemistry at the Ecole Polytechnique, and in 1795 

 was appointed member of the National Institute. In the same 

 year he was re-elected a member of the Council of Five Hundred ; 

 but, disengaging himself as soon as possible from political employ- 

 ments, lie devoted his whole energy, as Director of the Poly- 

 technic School, to perfecting the system of public instruction, 

 and assisting the progress of general science. His indefatigable 

 efforts in the important trust thus confided to him, were rewarded 

 first, by the |><>sl of Administrates General of the Mint, then by 

 the Cross of the Legion of Honour; and, lastly, in 1811, by the 

 rank of Ban in of the Empire. His advanced age and meritorious 

 services now obtained for hiin an honourable retreat from active 

 life, which he enjoyed for about four years ; and then, on Dec. 



