“ANNALS 
OF 
PHILOSOPHY. 
SEPTEMBER, 1815. 
ARTICLE I. 
Biographical Account of M. Parmentier. By M. Cuvier, 
Secretary of the Institute. 
‘TBE sciences have made that degree of progress as no Jonger to 
excite such astonishment at the great efforts which they suppose, 
and the striking truths which they bring to light, as at the immense 
advantages which their application daily produces to society. There 
is not one at present in which the discovery of a single proposition 
may not enrich a whole people, and change the face of states; and 
this influence, far from diminishing, must daily increase, because 
it is easy to prove that it depends upon the nature of things. 
Allow me to make some reflections on this subject, which cannot 
be misplaced, either in this house or before this assembly. * ; 
Hunger and cold are the two great enemies of our species. -The 
object of all our hearts is either directly or indirectly to combat 
them. . 
This is accomplished by the combination and the disengagement 
of two or three elementary substances. 
To nourish ourselves is nothing else than to replace the parcels of 
earbon and hydrogen which respiration and transpiration carry off: 
To warm ourselves is to retard: the dissipation of the heat which 
Fespiration furnishes. 
To one or other of these functions are devoted both the palace 
and the cottage ; both the brown bread of the poor,.and the ex- 
pensive food of the glutton; both the purple of kings, and the 
tatters of beggars. Consequently architecture and the liberal arts, 
_* This Lloge was read to the J'rench Institute, 
Vor. Vi. N° ILL. 1, 240i, 01 sirens 
