POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL. 177 



much success, that the toys, hitherto very inoffensive, had 

 become dangerous arms, which he had the honour of see- 

 ing proscribed by an express resolution of the assembled 

 parents of all the combatants. 



In 1801, Fresnel, aged thirteen, quitted the paternal 

 hearth, and went to Caen with his elder brother. The 

 central school of this town, where the instruction has 

 always been creditable, presented then a reunion of pro- 

 fessors of the rarest merit. The excellent lessons in 

 mathematics from M. Quenot, the course of general gram- 

 mar and logic from the Abbe de la Riviere, eminently 

 contributed to develop in the young pupil that sagacity, 

 that rectitude of mind, which guided him afterwards so 

 happily in the apparently inextricable labyrinth of natural 

 phenomena which he succeeded in clearing. The com- 

 munication of knowledge is, of all the benefits which we 

 receive in our youth, that of which a generous heart pre- 

 serves the deepest remembrance. Hence the gratitude 

 which Fresnel had felt towards his worthy professors at 

 Caen was always lively and respectful. The central 

 schools themselves always occupied a large share of his 

 recollections ; and I have some reason to believe that 

 many reminiscences of these ancient institutions would 

 have been found in a plan of study which he wished to 

 publish. 



Fresnel entered the Polytechnic School at the age of 

 sixteen and a half, where his eldest brother had preceded 

 him one year before. His health was at that time ex- 

 tremely weak, and gave reason to fear that he would be 

 unable to support the fatigue of so rough a noviciate ; 

 but that feeble body enclosed the most vigorous soul, and 

 in all things the firm will to succeed is already half the 

 success ; moreover, the dexterity of Fresnel in the 



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