APPENDIX. 343 



first organisation of the Institute in the year III. of the 

 Republic (1795), it was again established under the 

 title of Classe des Sciences Physiques et Mathematiques. 

 Napoleon retained this name when he reconstituted the 

 Institute in the year XL (1803) ; but it resumed its old 

 name of Academic des Sciences in 1816, in consequence 

 of a decree passed to that effect by Louis XVIII. 



This Academy comprises all the sciences properly so 

 called, each department being represented by only six 

 titular members in the sections of Geometry, Mechanics, 

 Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Botany, 

 Rural Economy, Anatomy and Zoology, Medicine and 

 Surgery, and by three titular members in the section of 

 Geography and Navigation. A special section is reserved 

 for men whose labours do not lead them directly to any 

 one of the preceding sections, as well as for those who 

 have employed the advantage of high rank or of a large 

 fortune in aiding and promoting the cause of science. 

 This is the section of the free members, of whom there 

 are ten ; the two perpetual secretaries are not included in 

 this number ; and when a member reaches this position, 

 which is the highest in the scientific hierarchy, his place 

 is filled up in the section to which he belonged. The 

 Academic des Sciences includes moreover eight foreign 

 associate members, who must be chosen from among 

 foreigners ; and who, during a temporary residence in 

 Paris, enjoy all the rights of titular members. These asso- 

 ciates, who are selected indifferently from any of the va- 

 rious departments, may, therefore, be considered as the 

 supreme leaders of science abroad and hence this title is 

 justly regarded as the most honourable of any that can 



ings, and publish its reports, through the darkest periods of the days 

 of terror. This was the Socit'te Philomathique, an offshoot from 

 the celebrated Societe d' Arcueil, and which, in memory of its origin, 

 bears upon its tickets of admission these words, Science et Amiti6. 



z 4 



