LAVOISIER 15 



The obverse side of one coin has the inscription : 

 "Ludov XVL, D. Gratia" (with the head of Louis); 

 and on the reverse side are the royal arms of France 

 (fleur-de-lis) and the inscription : "1782, Rex Franciae 

 et Navarrse." The obverse side of the other coin, only 

 ten years later, has the head of Louis and the inscrip- 

 tion : "Louis XVI., Roi des Franais"; and on the 

 reverse side: " 1792, 4 de la lib.," with the royal arms 

 replaced by a floral design. There is a great difference 

 in the title of the king ; and the fourth year of liberty 

 is most significant. 



The medal is an English one struck in 1794, on the 

 obverse of which is the following inscription : "A map 

 of France, 1794. France divided, throne overthrown, 

 honour trodden under foot, religion ' sixes and sevens,' 

 glory erased, and fire in every corner." And on the 

 reverse is the inscription : " May Great Britain ever 

 remain the reverse." 



These were the fanatical times in which Lavoisier 

 lived and worked. Fancy any man of science in these 

 days attempting to do research work during such a 

 general upheaval. 



A few words concerning the ever-memorable place of 

 execution will be of interest. The Place de la Revolution, 

 now the Place de la Concorde, the first square in Europe, 

 has a tragic history. Originally a waste ground, it was 

 reclaimed in 1748, after the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle 



