182 
THE CENTENARY OF THE ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE. 
itself so well deserving the judgment pronounced on it by the Emperor 
Alexander at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle:—“ It is by far the finest 
institution which has been founded by man !” 
[This Livre d’or, it may be stated, is the first of three superb volumes 
which have been published in honour of the centenary; the first is 
entitled L’Ecole Polytechnique et la Science; the second, L’Ecole Poly¬ 
technique et VArmee ; and the third, EEcole Polytechnique et le Genie 
Civil; the whole work having been composed by former cadets of the 
school, and containing a collection of souvenirs, traditions, episodes, 
incidents and anecdotes connected with, the school from its commence¬ 
ment, together with a record of the services and brilliant actions of 
former students who have become illustrious. The first volume only, 
so far, has been actually completed in time enough to be presented to 
M. Carnot on this occasion. It commences with a preface by M. 
Joseph Bertrand (whose jubilee as professor happened on the 18th 
March), followed by an historical notice of the school and its instruction, 
by MM. Mercadier and Rochas; the posthumous biographies of past illus¬ 
trious savants who have been educated at the school; and a chart of 
the academic history of the institution. The two volumes which com¬ 
plete the work are nearly finished and will be shortly ready for issue.] 
M. Faye, speaking in the name of the committee, had the honour of 
offering to the President the first volume of the great work which the 
old cadets of the school had published as a worthy celebration of the 
centenary of the foundation of the Polytechnic. “We are happy ” he 
added “ to pay this solemn homage to our illustrious comrade whom 
France, by a happy inspiration, has placed at her head.” 
The President replied :—“ Mes chers camarades, laissez-moi en vous 
appelant ainsi, prendre ma place entre mes anciens, mes contemporains 
et mes conscrits , je suis profondement emu de la demarche que vous 
faites aupres de moi. Je marque d’une croix blanche cette journee ou il 
m’est donne de vous recevoir et de vous remercier tons , au nom de notre 
mere commune de ce que vous avez fait pour honorer VEcole poly technique. 
En resumant V oeuvre des cent premieres annees de son existence, vous 
avez eleve a sa gloire un monument dont tons ses enfants ont droit d’etre 
fiers , et vous donnez aux generations qui nous suivront un exemple et un 
encouragement precieux , dont les polytechniciens de V avenir sauront 
profiter pour vouer a la patrie tous leurs efforts , sous la banniere de la 
science et de Vhonneur 
The Committee intend to give a grand fete, in honour of the cen¬ 
tenary, consisting of a ball and concert in the. grand hall of theTrocadero, 
sometime during the ensuing month of May, when all old Poly tech¬ 
nicians, numbering some seven thousand, will be invited to this immense 
family re-union of the school. M. Dupain, Professor of Design at the 
school has prepared a sketch of the reception at the Ely see, which will 
be exhibited at the Trocadero on this occasion, and from which a paint¬ 
ing is to be made which will be exhibited in the Salon next year. 
