TO THE MARQUIS DE LA Pj Jj&. 



PEER OF FRANCE, GRAND OFFICER OF THE LEGION OF HONOR, 



ONE OF THE FORTY OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY. 



MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, AND OF THE 



BOARD OF LONGITUDE, &C. 



MY DEAR AND ILLUSTRIOUS COLLEAGUE : 



I had many motives for my eagerness to offer you the homage 

 of my work on its first publication. While yet a young man, and I 

 imparted to you my first notions of the undertaking, you encouraged 

 me to pursue my plan ; since that period, having been admitted to a 

 place amongst my masters, I have found in the class of the sciences 

 in the Institute, counsels, encouragements, and helps of every kind; it 

 was in the midst of this learned body, that the opportunity was 

 afforded of imbibing that severe esprit, the fruit of the happy associa- 

 tion established in the Academy between mathematicians and natu- 

 ralists. You, Sir, who' after having achieved the subjection of the 

 Heavens to Geometry, have so happily applied it to terrestrial pheno- 

 mena, you contribute, more than any other person to keep up that 

 spirit. It will therefore be at all times a great honour for me to 

 see your name at the head of my book, and I feel the more gratified 

 in inscribing it there now, for the second time, as I have never 

 ceased to have new motives for offering you this testimony of my 

 respectful admiration and devotedness. 



G. CUVIER. 



