FOURIER APPOINTED PREFECT OF L’ISERE. 405 
FOURIER PREFECT OF L’ISERE. 
Fourier had no sooner returned to Europe, than he 
was named (January 2, 1802) Prefect of the Depart- 
ment of l’Isere. The Ancient Dauphiny was then a 
prey to ardent political dissensions. ‘The republicans, 
the partisans of the emigrants, those who had ranged 
themselves under the banners of the consular govern- 
ment, formed so many distinct castes, between whom all 
reconciliation appeared impossible. Well, Gentlemen, 
this impossibility Fourier achieved. His first care was 
to cause the Hotel of the Prefecture to be considered as 
a neutral ground, where each might show himself with- 
out even the appearance of a concession. Curiosity alone 
at first brought the people there, but the people returned ; 
for in France they seldom desert the saloons wherein are 
to be found a polished and benevolent host, witty with- 
out being ridiculous, and learned without being pedantic. 
What had been divulged of the opinions of our colleague, 
respecting the anti-biblican antiquity of the Egyptian 
monuments, inspired the religious classes especially with 
lively apprehensions; they were very adroitly informed 
that the new prefect counted a Saint in his family ; that 
the blessed Pierre Fourier, who established the religious 
sisters of the congregation of Notre-Dame, was his grand 
uncle, and this circumstance effected a reconciliation 
which the unalterable respect of the first magistrate of 
Grenoble for all conscientious opinions cemented every 
day more and more. 
As soon as he was assured of a truce with the political 
and religious parties, Fourier was enabled to devote him- 
self exclusively to the duties of his office. These duties 
did not consist with him in heaping up old papers to no 
