INTRODUCTION. 



IN the early part of the present year the French 

 original of this work was sent to me from Paris by 

 its author. It was accompanied by a letter from 

 M. Pasteur, expressing his desire to have the work 

 translated and published in England. Eesponding to 

 this desire, I placed the book in the hands of the 

 Messrs. Longman, who, in the exercise of their own 

 judgment, decided on publication. The translation was 

 confided, at my suggestion, to Lady Claud Hamilton. 



The translator's task was not always an easy one, 

 but it has, I think, been well executed. A few slight 

 abbreviations, for which I am responsible, have been 

 introduced, but in no case do they affect the sense. 

 It was, moreover, found difficult to render into suitable 

 English the title of the original : ' M. Pasteur, His- 

 toire d'un Savant par un Ignorant.' A less piquant and 

 antithetical English title was, therefore, substituted for 

 the French one. 



This filial tribute, for such it is, was written, under 

 the immediate supervision of M. Pasteur, by his 



