452 D'ALEMBERT. 



and the truth once discovered, he was extremely in- 

 different to the neatness of the investigation, whether 

 of the steps by which the analysis had guided his course, 

 or of the synthetical deduction by which he demon- 

 strated the proposition. His own observation was, " Let 

 us discover truths, and there will never want those 

 who can put them in shape." Possibly his quickness 

 (or facilite) the only quality beside " some talent,"* 

 which he modestly claimed for himself, may have had its 

 share in producing this carelessness about any elabora- 

 tion of his analysis. He is generally clear enough in 

 his explanations, always logical in his reasonings ; but 

 we enjoy not the pleasure of seeing the truth unfolded 

 by the most striking methods, or traced in its most 

 surprising relations and connected by remarkable ana- 

 logies with kindred matters. 



If, from contemplating the eminent merits of this 

 illustrious geometrician, we turn to regard him in his 

 literary capacity, there is, unquestionably, a signal fall- 

 ing off. He cannot be said here to occupy even a 

 second place. It is to be observed, that his entering 

 upon the belles-lettres, and, indeed, upon moral and 

 historical subjects also, was a deviation from his ori- 

 inal, and, as it were, his appointed course; nor ought 

 e failures of great men ever to be visited with cen- 

 sure, but under the influence of this candid and just 

 consideration. The accidental relations of society first 

 seduced him from geometry, and the appointment of 

 Secretary to the Academy completed the desertion of 

 his mistress, leading him to indulge in the meretricious 

 course of delivering popular essays to promiscuous 

 assemblies on great occasions of academical display. 

 To the task of handling literary subjects, too, he came 

 with a most imperfect preparation. He had no depth 

 at all of learning ; his knowledge of Latin was respect- 



* " II a apporte dans 1' etude de la haute geometric, quelque talent et 

 beaucoup de facilite ; ce qui lui a fait un assez grand nom de tres-bonne 

 heure." Portrait par lui-meme. (CEuv. i. xliv.) 



