118 MALUS. 
extent beyond what is usual. I have discovered among 
the papers of Malus, two cantos of an epic poem entitled 
Thémelie, or the Foundation of France, and two com- 
plete tragedies ; one on the capture of Utica, and the 
death of Cato; the other recounting the dreadful catas- 
trophes of the family of the Atrides, and entitled Electra. 
The fact that some beautiful verses and some interesting 
situations occur, would not hinder me from avowing that 
the youthful author had not as yet discovered his true 
vocation, were it not that the immense inequality which 
we observe between the Hostile Brothers and the Andro- 
mache, though both worthy of Racine, shows with what 
caution we ought to abstain from premature judgment. 
Malus pushed forward with equal and distinguished 
success the study of letters, and of algebra and geometry. 
He went through the examination for the School of En- 
gineers at Mezieres, in 1793, and was classed the same 
year as sub-lieutenant in the promotion in which General 
Bertrand held the first place. But the serious disorders 
of which the school of Meéziéres was the theatre, having 
caused its suppression, Malus could not profit by his bre- 
vet of admission. He enrolled himself as a volunteer in 
the 15th battalion of Paris, and proceeded to Dunkirk, 
where he took part in the manual labour of the wheel- 
barrow, as a common workman in the construction of the 
field fortifications with which that place was being sur- 
rounded. M. Lepere, engineer of roads and bridges, who 
was directing a part of these constructions, having re- — 
marked certain peculiar and unexpected arrangements in 
the manner in which the soldiers executed the excava- 
tions and raised the mounds, was desirous to learn the 
origin of these practices; they pointed out to him the 
man who had indicated these as the means best suited to 
