88 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF FRANCIS ARAGO. 



opposition to M. cle Laplace. The illustrious geometer 

 wished a vacant place in the astronomical section to be 

 granted to M. Nicollet, a man without talent, and, more 

 over, suspected of misdeeds which reflected on his honour 

 in the most serious degree. At the close of a contest, 

 which I maintained undisguisedly, notwithstanding the 

 danger which might follow from thus braving the power 

 ful protectors of M. Nicollet, the Academy proceeded to 

 the ballot ; the respected M. Damoiseau, whose election I 

 had supported, obtained forty -five votes out of forty-eight. 

 Thus M. Nicollet had collected but three. 



&quot; I see,&quot; said M. de Laplace to me, &quot; that it is use- 

 Jess to struggle against young people ; I acknowledge 

 that the man who is called the great elector of the Acad 

 emy is more powerful than I am.&quot; 



&quot; No,&quot; replied I ; &quot; M. Arago can only succeed in 

 counterbalancing the opinion justly preponderating for 

 M. de Laplace, when the right is found to be without 

 possible contradiction on his side.&quot; 



A short time afterwards M. Nicollet had run away to 

 America, and the Bureau of Longitude had a warrant 

 passed to expel him ignominiously from its bosom. 



I would warn those savans, who, having early entered 

 the Academy, might be tempted to imitate my example, 

 to expect nothing beyond the satisfaction of their con 

 science. I warn them, with a knowledge of the case, 

 that gratitude will almost always be found wanting. 



The elected academician, whose merits you have some 

 times exalted beyond measure, pretends that you have 

 done no more than justice to him ; that you have only 

 fulfilled a duty, and that he therefore owes you no 

 thanks. 



Delambre died the 19th August, 1822. After the ne- 



