Arago and La Place. 109 



Though incomparably superior to Arago in mathe- 

 matics and astronomical science, he was inferior to 

 him in general acquirements, so that his conversa- 

 tion was less varied and popular. We were invited 

 to go early and spend a day with them at Arcoeuil, 

 where they had a country house. M. Arago had 

 told M. de la Place that I had read the " Meca- 

 nique Celeste," so we had a great deal of conversation 

 about astronomy and the calculus, and he gave me 

 a copy of his " Systeme du Monde," with his in- 

 scription, which pleased me exceedingly. I spoke 

 French very badly, but I was less at a loss on scien- 

 tific subjects, because almost all my books on science 

 were in French. The party at dinner consisted of 

 MM. Biot, Arago, Bouvard, and Poisson. I sat 

 next M. de la Place, who was exceedingly kind 

 and attentive. In such an assemblage of philoso- 

 phers I expected a very grave and learned conversa- 

 tion. But not at all ! Everyone talked in a gay, 

 animated, and loud key, especially M Poisson, who 

 had all the vivacity of a Frenchman. Madame 

 Biot, from whom we received the greatest attention, 

 made a party on purpose, as she said, to show us, 

 " Ics personnes distingue 1 es." Madame Biot was a 

 well-educated woman, and had made a translation 

 from the German of a work, which was published 

 under the name of her husband. The dinner was 



