352 



merit, as developing with clearness the true principles by which the 

 understanding advances from that which is known to that which is 

 unknown. 



His last Avork, the Elemens d' Analyse Geometrique et Algehrique^ 

 appliquees d la recherche des lieux geometriques, in 4to, appeared in 

 the year 1809. It was dedicated to his former pupil, Prince Czar- 

 torynski, who was, at that time, minister of public instruction in the 

 vast empire of Russia, but who has since become better known to 

 Europe as the most illustrious of the exiled Poles. 



The declining health of I'Huillier obliged him at length to resign 

 a professorship which he had held during five-and-twenty years, and 

 the duties of which he had ever discharged with the most unde- 

 viating regularity, and the most scrupulous exactness. Even while 

 suffering acutely from a painful attack of sciatica, he insisted on 

 being carried to his class, lest any detriment should arise to his 

 pupils from an interruption to his lectures. Many of these pupils 

 have subsequently distinguished themselves in their scientific career ; 

 among these may be cited one of our illustrious foreign members, 

 Professor Sturm. 



For the simplicity of his manners and the strict integrity of his 

 character, THuillier was no less remarkable than for the vigour 

 and extent of his mathematical powers : by these qualities he was 

 endeared to his friends, and esteemed and respected by all, during 

 a life protracted beyond the ordinary duration. His death occurred 

 on the 28th of March, 1 840, when he had nearly completed his 90th 

 year, with a constitution, however, which had some time previously 

 been shattered and broken down by the infirmities incident to so 

 advanced an age*. 



Felix Savart, a philosopher distinguished more especially for 

 his researches in the science of Acoustics, was born on the 30th of 

 June, 1791 5 at Mezieres, the capital of the Department of the Ar- 

 dennes, in France. He very early exhibited a decided turn for me- 

 chanical invention, and his greatest delight was to contrive and con- 

 struct with his own hands musical instruments and apparatus il- 

 lustrative of Natural Philosophy, a study of which he was passion- 

 ately fond. His parents had been connected with the school of 

 engineers at Mezieres ; and several of his relations having been di- 

 stinguished as artists, he was himself educated with a view to the 

 same destination. But the family afterwards removing to Metz, the 

 path which had at first been marked out for him was abandoned, 

 and he prepared himself for another profession, by directing his 

 whole attention to medicine. In course of time he obtained the 

 appointment of Assistant Surgeon in the Military Hospital. Not 

 satisfied M-ith this probation, he, in 1814, repaired to Strasburg for 

 the purpose of prosecuting his medical studies in the Military 



* The above account is derived from a biographical notice by Professor 

 De La Rive, which forms part of the ComjJie rendu de VHat de fmstruciion 

 publique de Geiicve jjendant Vannee scolaire, 1839-1840. 



