Notes on the Life of A ray o. 61 



unwearying industry, led him without difficulty through an 

 amount of labour which would have overwhelmed an ordi- 

 nary man. There was a remarkable clearness in his percep- 

 tion of these matters to which his attention was directed. 

 He readily stripped them of any adventitious clouding or 

 mystery by which they might be surrounded, and fearlessly 

 and energetically expressed his convictions. As a writer, 

 we may remark the strong evidences of the latter in bis 

 firmness of style ; and the clearness of his perceptive faculties 

 is shewn in his lucid eloquence. 



In 1834 Arago visited Edinburgh for the purpose of at- 

 tending the meeting of the British Association. His friend, 

 Professor Jameson, shewed him marked attention. The 

 freedom of the City was granted to him by the Lord Provost, 

 Magistrates, and Council, which he was highly proud of; 

 and he also had conferred on him the honourable distinction 

 of doctor of laws. 



It would have been well if Arago had devoted himself ex- 

 clusively to the pursuits of science and literature, for which 

 he was so eminently qualified. He found himself unable to 

 resist the temptation presented by the revolution of 1830 of 

 entering on the political arena. During the combat of the 

 three days he did his best to stop, through his influence with 

 Marmont, with whom he had long been on friendly terms, the 

 effusion of blood. In the election which took place soon after 

 the fall of the elder branch of the Bourbons, he was elected 

 to the Chamber of Deputies by his department, and at once 

 chose the party to which he attached himself, by taking his 

 place between Laffitte and Dupont (de L'Eure) in the extreme 

 left. From that period till the revolution of 1848 he acted 

 with the same party. On questions of material interest to 

 the country, such as public education, the navy, canals, rail- 

 roads, &c, he often spoke, and effectively ; and it is not yet 

 forgotten, that on the question of the fortifications of Paris 

 his opposition against the detached forts was formidable. His 

 speech in 1840, on the necessity of extending the electoral 

 suffrage, produced great sensation at the time. In the midst 

 of his scientific and legislative labours, he found time to at- 

 tend to his duties as member of the Council- General of the 



