sia ail Oe el ee a ae Me 
“GEOMETRY OF POSITION. 77 
again into private life; I will not say with joy, Gentle- 
men, for in our colleague’s bosom the virtues of a citizen 
always occupied the principal place; for he had hoped, 
that, like another Washington, General Bonaparte would 
avail himself of this unique opportunity to found in 
France order and liberty on a stable basis; for no man 
initiated in public affairs, and endowed with some fore- 
sight, could without uneasiness see the reins of govern- 
ment: placed beyond control, and without guarantee, in 
the hands of an ambitious soldier. I shall be able at 
least to show you that Carnot’s leisure was nobly and 
gloriously employed. 
PUBLICATION OF THE GEOMETRY OF POSITION. 
There is a story told of a young student who, almost 
discouraged with some difficulties inherent in the first 
elements of mathematics, went to consult D’Alembert, 
when this great geometer answered him, “ Go on, sir, 
go on, and faith will come to you.” * 
The advice was good, and geometers have followed it 
generally: they “go on,’ also; they perfect methods, 
and multiply the applications of them, without pre- 
occupying themselves about the two or three points 
where the metaphysics of the science offer obscurities. 
Shall it be said on that account that the filling up of 
* D’ Alembert’s advice requires much explanation; as it stands it 
would be a good motto for Jesuits. It reads altogether contrary to 
the spirit of mathematics, where one step is made sure of before 
looking out for another,—where the self-secured truth is in place of 
any faith. It is meant, perhaps, to encourage the student to disregard 
contingent apparent puzzles; it should then be rendered, “ Hold on 
in the path whose truth is evident to you, and after a time you will 
get a clearer view of those collateral circumstances which now con- 
fuse you, while looking every way at once.”— Translator. 
