FOURIER APPOINTED PREFECT OF I/ISERE. 405 

 FOURIER PREFECT OF L'lSERE. 



Fourier had no sooner returned to Europe, than he 

 was named (January 2, 1802) Prefect of the Depart- 

 ment of 1'Isere. The Ancient Dauphiny was then a 

 prey to ardent political dissensions. The republicans, 

 the partisans of the emigrants, those who had ranged 

 themselves under the banners of the consular govern- 

 ment, formed so many distinct castes, between whom all 

 reconciliation appeared impossible. Well, Gentlemen, 

 this impossibility Fourier achieved. His first care was 

 to cause the Hotel of the Prefecture to be considered as 

 a neutral ground, where each might show himself with- 

 out even the appearance of a concession. Curiosity alone 

 at first brought the people there, but the people returned ; 

 for in France they seldom desert the saloons wherein are 

 to be found a polished and benevolent host, witty with- 

 out being ridiculous, and learned without being pedantic. 

 What had been divulged of the opinions of our colleague, 

 respecting the anti-biblican antiquity of the Egyptian 

 monuments, inspired the religious classes especially with 

 lively apprehensions ; they were very adroitly informed 

 that the new prefect counted a Saint in his family ; that 

 the blessed Pierre Fourier, w r ho established the religious 

 sisters of the congregation of Notre-Dame, was his grand 

 uncle, and this circumstance effected a reconciliation 

 which the unalterable respect of the first magistrate of 

 Grenoble for all conscientious opinions cemented every 

 day more and more. 



As soon as he was assured of a truce with the political 

 and religious parties, Fourier was enabled to devote him- 

 self exclusively to the duties of his office. These duties 

 did not consist with him in heaping up old papers to no 



