THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GENIUS 147 



the right acid, the left acid will remain the left 

 acid. But you will find that the prudent la- 

 bours of M. Littre also had their value. You 

 will follow with some interest the care taken 

 by our critical philosophy to eliminate error, by 

 mistrusting its own procedure and limiting the 

 extent of its observations. When you see how 

 many good things are taught by those branches 

 of letters that are frivolous in appearance, you 

 will come to believe that the discreet doubt, the 

 smile, the fine play of wit of which Pascal 

 speaks, also have their value. Among us you 

 will find no experiments to make; but that 

 modest power of observation, from which you 

 demand so much, will suffice to procure you 

 many a pleasant hour. We will communicate 

 our hesitations to you : and you will communi- 

 cate your assurance to us. You will bring us, 

 above all, your glory, your genius, and the re- 

 nown of your discoveries. Monsieur, I bid you 

 welcome." 



Pasteur was succeeded in the Academic 

 Franchise by Gaston Paris, the restorer of the 



