88 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF FRANCIS ARAGO. 



opposition to M. de Laplace. The illustrious geometer 

 wished a vacant place in the astronomical section to be 

 granted to M. Nicollet, a man without talent, and, more- 

 over, suspected of misdeeds which reflected on his honour 

 in the most serious degree. At the close of a contest, 

 which I maintained undisguisedly, notwithstanding the 

 danger which might follow from thus braving the power- 

 ful protectors of M. Nicollet, the Academy proceeded to 

 the ballot ; the respected M. Damoiseau, whose election I 

 had supported, obtained forty-five votes out of forty-eight. 

 Thus M. Nicollet had collected but three. 



" I see," said M. de Laplace to me, " that it is use- 

 less to struggle against young people ; I acknowledge 

 that the man who is called the great elector of the Acad- 

 emy is more powerful than I am." 



" No," replied I ; " M. Arago can only succeed in 

 counterbalancing the opinion justly preponderating for 

 M. de Laplace, when the right is found to be without 

 possible contradiction on his side." 



A short time afterwards M. Nicollet had run away to 

 America, and the Bureau of Longitude had a warrant 

 passed to expel him ignominiously from its bosom. 



I would warn those savans, who, having early entered 

 the Academy, might be tempted to imitate my example, 

 to expect nothing beyond the satisfaction of their con- 

 science. I warn them, with a knowledge of the case, 

 that gratitude will almost always be found wanting. 



The elected academician, whose merits you have some- 

 times exalted beyond measure, pretends that you have 

 done no more than justice to him ; that you have only 

 fulfilled a duty, and that he therefore owes you no 

 thanks. 



Delambre died the 19th August, 1822. After the ne- 



