ENTRANCE INTO THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 437 



something else than an indigestible mass of figures and 

 tables. 



ENTRANCE OF FOURIER INTO THE ACADEMY OF SCI- 

 ENCES. HIS ELECTION TO THE OFFICE OF PERPET- 

 UAL SECRETARY. HIS ADMISSION TO THE FRENCH 



ACADEMY. 



The Academy of Sciences seized the first occasion 

 which offered itself to attach Fourier to its interests. 

 On the 27th of May, 1816, he was nominated a free 

 academician. This election was not confirmed. The 

 solicitations and influence of the Dauphin whom circum- 

 stances detained at Paris, had almost disarmed the au- 

 thorities, when a courtier exclaimed that an amnesty was 

 to be granted to the civil Labedoyere ! * This word, 

 for during many ages past the poor human race has been 

 governed by words, decided the fate of our colleague. 

 Thanks to political intrigue, the ministers of Louis 

 XVIII. decided that one of the most learned men of 

 France should not belong to the Academy ; that a citizen 

 who enjoyed the friendship of all the most distinguished 

 persons in the metropolis, should be publicly stricken with 

 disapprobation ! 



In our country, the reign of absurdity does not last 

 long. Accordingly in 1817, when the Academy, without 

 being discouraged by the ill success of its first attempt, 

 unanimously nominated Fourier to the place which had 

 just been vacant in the section of physics, the royal con- 

 firmation was accorded without difficulty. I ought to 

 add that soon afterwards, the ruling authorities whose 

 repugnances were entirely dissipated, frankly and unre- 



* In allusion to the military traitor Colonel Labedoyere, who was 

 condemned to death for espousing the cause of Napoleon. Translator. 



19* 



