24 LIFE OF SADI CARNOT. 



fact that he took part in March, 1814, in the 

 military exploits of Vincennes, and not of the 

 butte Chaumont, as almost all the historians of 

 the siege of Paris declared. M. Chasles, one of 

 Sadi's school-fellows, took pains to rectify this 

 error at a seance of the Institute in 1869. 



If the pupils of the Polytechnic School did not 

 earlier enter into the campaign, it was not because 

 they had not asked to do so. I find in my broth- 

 er's papers the copy of an address to the Emperor, 

 signed by them December 29, 1813 : 



" SIRE : The country needs all its defenders. 

 The pupils of the Polytechnic School, faithful to 

 their motto, ask to be permitted to hasten to the 

 frontiers to share the glory of the brave men who 

 are consecrating themselves to the safety of France. 

 The battalion, proud of having contributed to the 

 defeat of the enemy, will return to the school to 

 cultivate the sciences and prepare for new services/' 



General Carnot was at Anvers, which he had just 

 been defending against the confederate English, 

 Prussians, and Swedes, where the French flag yet 

 floated, when he wrote to his son, .April 12, 1814 : 



" MY DEAR SADI : I have learned with extreme 

 pleasure that the battalion .of the Polytechnic 

 School has distinguished itself, and that you have 

 performed your first military exploits with honor. 



