178 



FRESNEL. 



graphic arts was nearly unequalled, and on this ground 

 he could fully compete with the cleverest of his com- 

 rades, even whilst imposing upon him far less work in a 

 day. When Fresnel went through the course at the 

 Polytechnic School, a savant, whose zeal age has not 

 cooled, whom the Academy of Sciences has the happi- 

 ness to number amongst its most active and most assidu- 

 ous members, and whom, as he is listening to me, I will 

 only designate by the simple title of the chief of living 

 geometers, fulfilled the duties of examiner. In the 

 course of the year 1804, he proposed to the pupils, as a 

 subject of competition, a geometrical question. Several 

 solved it ; but the solution of Fresnel particularly struck 

 the attention of our colleague ; for superior men enjoy 

 the happy privilege of discovering, even from slight 

 indications, the talents which will shine brightly. M. 

 Legendre (his name escapes from my lips) complimented 

 the young prize-man publicly. Proofs of encourage- 

 ment coming from so high a quarter revealed to Fresnel, 

 perhaps for the first time, the secret of his own merit, 

 and conquered an excessive feeling of mistrust, which 

 with him produced the most vexatious results, because it 

 prevented him from attempting new paths. 



On leaving the Polytechnic School, Fresnel passed 

 into the department of the " ponts et chaussees." When 

 he had obtained the rank of ingenieur ordinaire, he was 

 sent into the department of the Vendee, where the gov- 

 ernment, desirous to efface the traces of our deplorable 

 civil discord, raised up all that war had thrown down, 

 opened communications destined to give life to the 

 country, and laid the foundations of a new town. Every 

 pupil, whatever may be the career he is about to enter 

 upon, awaits with the most eager impatience the instant 



