384 JOSEPH FOURIER. 



PART PLAYED BY FOURIER IN OUR REVOLUTION. 



HIS ENTRANCE INTO THE CORPS OF PROFESSORS 

 OF THE NORMAL SCHOOL AND THE POLYTECHNIC 

 SCHOOL. EXPEDITION TO EGYPT. 



We had just left Fourier at Paris, submitting to the 

 Academy of Sciences the analytical memoir of which I 

 have just given a general view. Upon his return to 

 Auxerre, the young geometer found the town, the sur- 

 rounding country, and even the school to which he be- 

 longed, occupied intensely with the great questions rela- 

 tive to the dignity of human nature, philosophy, and 

 politics, which were then discussed by the orators of the 

 different parties of the National Assembly. Fourier 

 abandoned himself also to this movement of the human 

 mind. He embraced with enthusiasm the principles of 

 the Revolution, and he ardently associated himself with 

 every thing grand, just, and generous which the popular 

 impulse offered. His patriotism made him accept the 

 most difficult missions. We may assert, that never, even 

 when his life was at stake, did he truckle to the base, 

 covetous, and sanguinary passions which displayed them- 

 selves on all sides. 



A member of the popular society of Auxerre, Fourier 

 exercised there an almost irresistible ascendency. One 

 day all Burgundy has preserved the remembrance of 

 it on the occasion of a levy of three hundred thousand 

 men, he made the words honour, country, glory, ring so 

 eloquently, he induced so many voluntary enrolments, 

 that the ballot was not deemed necessary. At the com- 

 mand of the orator the contingent assigned to the chief 

 town of the Yonne formed in order, assembled together 

 within the very enclosure of the Assembly, and marched 



