LABOURS OF FOURIER IN EGYPT. 395 



tion of the site of the ancient Memphis, and of the whole 

 extent of burying-places ; a descriptive account of the 

 revolutions and manners of Egypt, from the time of its 

 conquest by Selim. 



I find also in the Egyptian Decade, that, on the first 

 complementary day of the year VI., Fourier communi- 

 cated to the Institute the description of a machine de- 

 signed to promote irrigation, and which was to be driven 

 by the power of wind. 



This work, so far removed from the ordinary current 

 of the ideas of our colleague, has not been printed. It 

 would very naturally find a place in a work of which the 

 Expedition to Egypt might again furnish the subject, not- 

 withstanding the many beautiful publications which it 

 has already called into existence. It would be a de- 

 scription of the manufactories of steel, of arms, of pow- 

 der, of cloth, of machines, and of instruments of every 

 kind which our army had to prepare for the occasion. 

 If, during our infancy, the expedients which Robinson 

 Crusoe practised in order to escape from the romantic 

 dangers which he had incessantly to encounter, excite 

 our interest in a lively degree, how, in mature age, could 

 we regard with indifference a handful of Frenchmen 



O 



thrown upon the inhospitable shores of Africa, without 

 any possible communication with the mother country, 

 obliged to contend at once with the elements and with 

 formidable armies, destitute of food, of clothing, of arms, 

 and of ammunition, and yet supplying every want by the 

 force of genius ! 



The long route which I have yet to traverse, will 

 hardly allow me to add a few words relative to the 

 administrative services of the illustrious geometer. Ap- 

 pointed French Commissioner at the Divan of Cairo, he 



