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- 
