306 LAPLACE. 



the three great powers of the State might worthily close 

 this series of biographical notices of eminent astrono- 

 mers.* 



The Marquis de Laplace, peer of France, one of the 

 forty of the French Academy, member of the Academy 

 of Sciences and of the Bureau des Longitudes, an asso- 

 ciate of all the great Academies or Scientific Societies 

 of Europe, was born at Beaumont-en-Auge of parents 

 belonging to the class of small farmers, on the 28th of 

 March, 1749 ; he died on the 5th of March, 1827. 



The first and second volumes of the Mecanique Celeste 

 were published in 1799 ; the third volume appeared in 

 1802, the fourth volume in 1805 ; as regards the fifth 

 volume, Books XI. and XII. were published in 1823, 

 Books XIII. XIV. and XV. in 1824, and Book XVI. 

 in 1825. The Theorie des Probabilites was published in 

 1812. We shall now present the reader with the his- 

 tory of the principal astronomical discoveries contained 

 in these immortal works. 



Astronomy is the science of which the human mind 

 may most justly boast. It owes this indisputable pre- 

 eminence to the elevated nature of its object, to the 

 grandeur of its means of investigation, to the certainty, 

 the utility, and the unparalleled magnificence of its 

 results. 



From the earliest period of the social existence of 

 mankind, the study of the movements of the heavenly 

 bodies has attracted the attention of governments and 

 peoples. To several great captains, illustrious states- 

 men, philosophers, and eminent orators of Greece and 

 Rome it formed a subject of delight. Yet, let us be per- 

 mitted to state, astronomy truly worthy of the name is 



* The author here refers to the series of biographies contained in 

 tome III. of the Notices Biographiques. Translator. 



