266 LAVOISIER. 



together with the utterly ridiculous nature of the charge 

 against him, we can hardly avoid asking ourselves how it 

 came to pass that no voice was raised, no hand stretched 

 out for his rescue. One man of science, among the most 

 eminent of his time Carnot, was on the Terrible Com- 

 mittee: had he no means of saving this great philoso- 

 pher, accused of something as absurd and fabulous as 

 witchcraft? There was another, much more nearly 

 related to Lavoisier in his pursuits a member possessed 

 of no small influence in the Convention, and who had in 

 the Committee of Public Instruction succeeded in carry- 

 ing some most important measures Fourcroy was that 

 man; and he had often employed his extraordinary 

 powers in explaining and enforcing the great discoveries 

 of his master, as well as in sounding his praises to 

 crowded audiences assembled from every part of the 

 world. Fourcroy could never have feared to receive the 

 answer of the savage, Coffinhal, that the Republic had 

 philosophers enough ; and it is to be hoped that Fourcroy 

 did not consider there would be philosophers enough if 

 his master were to disappear from among their number. 

 The courage shown by the virtuous Halle might have 

 been expected from Fourcroy, in whom its display would 

 have been incomparably safer. His interposition would 

 also have been much more powerful ; nay, we know that 

 he did interpose, with effect, for another member of the 

 Academy, M. Darcet, whom he saved from the guillotine. 

 No explanation has ever been given of the neutral 

 position maintained by him in Lavoisier's apparent 

 murder. This only we know, that he remained in his 

 place, both as a member of the Convention and of the 

 Committee; and we know, too, how impossible it would 



