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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 réunion 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 Abbé 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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