44 CARNOT. 



The years 1793 and 1794 were characterized by two 

 sorts of terror : the terror of the interior, I have just 

 proved, Gentlemen, our colleague was always a stranger 

 to, as to any thing criminal in it ; but the terror which 

 the French soldiers inspired in the innumerable enemies 

 that came from every part of Europe to assail our fron- 

 tiers, this sort of terror was indeed the work of Carnot ; 

 it was glorious ; the recollection of it will be immortal ; 

 I claim it for the memory of our colleague ; I claim it 

 also for the honour of the Academy. You will not re- 

 fuse, Gentlemen, again to follow Carnot in this fine and 

 brilliant phase of his public career. I am assured in 

 this hope by your devotion to our country. 



CARNOT ENTRUSTED WITH THE ORGANIZATION AND 

 DIRECTION OF OUR ARMIES. 



At divers epochs, in France as well as in other coun- 

 tries, simple administrators have been seen successfully 

 to occupy the eminent positions of Minister of War, and 

 Minister of Marine. The General-in-chief, the Admiral, 

 was then entrusted with a command, with carte blanche 

 as to the operations, and the ministers had nothing far- 

 ther to do than to send regular and opportune provisions 

 and reinforcements. Would you believe it, Gentlemen ? 

 it was in this confined circle that bad faith and envy 

 wished to confine the decisive influence that Carnot ex- 

 ercised on our destinies. But it will be easy for us in a 

 few words to tear to pieces this web of hideous ingrati- 

 tude. 



When our colleague became, in August 1793, member 

 of the Committee of Public Safety, France was passing 

 through a frightful crisis. The wreck of Dumouriez's 

 army was repulsed from one position to another ; Valen- 



