II. 



LIFE OF SADI CARNOT. 

 BY M. H. CARNOT. 



As the life of Sadi Carnot was not marked by 

 any notable event, his biography would have occu- 

 pied only a few lines ; but a scientific work by him, 

 after remaining long in obscurity, brought again 

 to light many years after his death, has caused his 

 name to be placed among those of great inventors. 

 In regard to his person, his mind, his character, 

 nothing whatever has been known. Since there re- 

 mains a witness of his private life the sole witness, 

 has he not a duty to fulfil ? Ought he not to 

 satisfy the natural and legitimate interest which 

 attaches to any man whose work has deserved a 

 portion of glory ? 



Nicolas-Leonard-Sadi Carnot was born Junel, 

 1796, in the smaller Luxembourg. This was that 

 part of the palace where our father then dwelt as 

 a member of the Directory. Our father had a 

 predilection for the name of Sadi, which recalled 

 to his mind ideas of wisdom and poetry. His first- 

 born had borne this name, and despite the fate 



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