430 JOSEPH FOURIER. 
I 
RETURN OF NAPOLEON FROM ELBA.—FOURIER PRE- 
FECT OF THE RHONE.—HIS NOMINATION TO THE 
OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF THE BOARD OF STATIS-— 
TICS OF THE SEINE. 
I have just exhibited to you the scientific fruits of the 
leisure hours of the Prefect of ’Isére. Fourier still oc- 
cupied this situation when Napoleon arrived at Cannes. 
His conduct during this grave conjuncture has been 
the object of a hundred false rumours. I shall then dis- 
charge a duty by establishing the facts in all their truth, 
according to what I have heard from our colleague’s own 
mouth. 
Upon the news of the Emperor having disembarked, 
the principal authorities of Grenoble assembled at the 
residence of the Prefect. There each individual ex- 
plained ably, but especially, said Fourier, with much 
detail, the difficulties which he perceived. As regards 
the means of vanquishing them, the authorities seemed 
to be much less inventive. Confidence in administrative 
eloquence was not yet worn out at that epoch; it was 
resolved accordingly to have recourse to proclamations. 
The commanding officer and the Prefect presented each 
a project. The assembly was discussing minutely the 
terms of them, when an officer of the gendarmes, an old 
soldier of the Imperial armies, exclaimed rudely, “ Gen- 
tlemen, be quick, otherwise all deliberation will become 
useless. Believe me, I speak from experience; Napo- 
leon always follows very closely the couriers who an- 
nounce his arrival.” Napoleon was in fact close at hand. 
After a short moment of hesitation, two companies of 
sappers which had been dispatched to cut down a bridge, 
joined their former commander. A battalion of infantry 
soon followed their example. Finally, upon the very 
