SIO MEMOIRS OF 



As I have here spoken of the meeting of the 

 Academies on the 26th of July, I will stop to 

 correct an error wliich has obtained much circu- 

 lation in England. A personal quarrel is said to 

 have taken place on that day, before the meeting, 

 between M. Cuvicr and M. Arago, in vvliich the 

 former was, with difficulty, prevented from draw- 

 ing his sword. The only foundation for this 

 report was, that M. Arago was obliged on this 

 occasion to read an 61oge on M. Fresnel, in 

 which he had introduced a very violent paragraph 

 against the Clermont-Tonnerre ministry, which 

 paragraph might easily have been converted into 

 a marked reference to the tlien existing govern- 

 ment. M. Cuvier suggested to M. Arago that 

 it would be more wise and prudent to leave out 

 this part of the 61oge, and at such a moment to 

 avoid all causes of excitation. lie gave his ad- 

 vice in tlie most friendly manner ; but, as M. 

 Arago defended liis paragraph with considerable 

 warmth, M. Cuvier ceased to urge the matter. 

 After this, the two secretaries appeared together 

 before the public assembly, in the Hall of the 

 Institute, and when the ceremony was concluded 

 they dined together at M. Cuvier's house, and 

 passed the evening most amicably in eacli other's 

 society, without an idea that their mere differ- 



