FIRST SCIENTIFIC PAPERS. 183 



he was able to renew his acquaintance with his old 

 fellow students, and to prepare for those scientific re- 

 searches which he designed to pursue in the retreat 

 where his younger years had been passed. At this time 

 Fresnel had but a very confused idea of the brilliant dis- 

 coveries, which, in the early years of the present cen- 

 tury, entirely changed the aspect of optical science. 



FRESNEL'S FIRST SCIENTIFIC PAPERS. 



The first memoir on science which Fresnel drew up, 

 dates from this same year, 1814. It was an essay whose 

 object was to rectify the explanation, considered as 

 imperfect, of the phenomenon of the aberration of the 

 light of the stars hitherto generally followed in elemen- 

 tary works. Both geometry and physical science equally 

 bore out this new administration ; but, unfortunately, it 

 too closely resembled that already given by Bradley him- 

 self and by Clairault. I say unfortunately, because, if 

 we should suppose that such coincidences are pleasing to 

 the self-love of a debutant, or stimulate his zeal, it would 

 be a mistake. On the other hand, an author may sup- 

 port with philosophy, I admit, the unpleasant fact of 

 having uselessly employed his powers for years in the 

 search after a truth already long since established ; he 

 may give up, with the best grace, the flattering hope of 

 seeing his name associated with some brilliant discovery ; 

 but might he not feel much more disquieted when there 

 was ground to fear, that from mere ignorance of the 

 existence of prior researches, of which no one dreamed, 

 he might stand charged with plagiarism ? when he might 

 apprehend that an irreproachable character was no safe- 

 guard against such imputations ? The public, notwith- 

 standing the most express denials, will always believe 



