148 
weakening, gives it additional ftrength. 
The priaciple of the invention is the fol- 
lowing. In addition to the common bands 
to which the paper is fewed, hinges are 
adapted, made of brafs or copper, which 
conhft of as many pieces as there are quires 
in the scok,. Thefe pieces are {mall oars 
of about,an inch and a half in lengta, and 
the tenth of an inch wide, more or lefs ac- 
cording to the fize of the book. They are 
joined together by a kind of chain at borh 
encs, compofed of a number of {mall flat 
pieces, very much ]ke the chain round 


Anecdotes of Eminent Perfins. 


(Sept. 1, 
the barrel of a watch, each of which ig 
perforated through by two holes, which 
the pivots at the ends of the bars pafs, by 
which means the whole is linked together, 
and forms one hinge, which has as man 
joints as there are bars. Every bar has 
two holes, one near each end, through 
which the needle is paffed, whereby every 
feparate quire of the book is fewed to the 
hinges, fo that in whatever part of the 
book there is occafion to wrie, it opens 
with as much freedom as a fiagle quire of 
paper. 




AN 
MEMOIRS Of PIERRE-FRANCOIS-ANDRE 
MECHAIN, ASTRONOMER Of tbe Na- 
ECDOTES OF EMINENT PEKSONS. 
permit him to remain at his chateau, to 
inftruét in the mathematical fciences, two 
TIONAL OBSERVATORY, MEMBER of ‘of his fons, who were intended for the corps 
the NATIONAL INSTITUTE, Gad Of tie 
BOARD 0f LONGITUDE im PARIS. 
Vi ECHAIN was born at Laon, in the 
i department de Aine, on the 16th 
of Auguft, 1744. His father was an ar- 
chiteét in that town, and by his profeffional 
abilities and integrity had not fo much 
increafed his fortune as acquired the eftcem 
of his feliow-citizens, "Young Méchain 
was eaily fent to {chool in the-college of 
the Jefuirs ; where Ais natural talents foon 
fhone forth: he made a rapid progrefs, 
and diftinguifhed himfelf by cutiiripping 
moft of his {chool-fellows. After he had 
finifned the ufual courfe of fudies, he was 
deftined tor the profeilion which his father 
exercifed with fo much approbation: in 
confequence of which refolucion,he received 
more particular inltruétion in the mathe- 
matical and mechanical {ciences, in draw- 
ing, mafonry, carpentery, &c. In thefpace ° 
of three years he had made fuch progrets 
in thefe preparatory ftudies, that at the age 
of 19 he was abie nct only to draw plans 
for large edifices, but even to fuperinterd. 
the execution of them. 
His father had feverai buildings to con- 
ftruct for a nobleman cf Picardy, a very 
learned man, who on this occafion became 
acquainted with young Méchain, who 
proved himfelf fo able an afliitant to his fa- 
ther. The nobleman foon obferved that 
this intelligent and modeft youth had en- 
joyed a good and careful education, and 
had acquired much knowledge, efpecially 
of the different branches of mathematics; 
and the more he flaw of him, the more he 
found reafon to efteem him for his good 
fenfe, the folidity of his conduct, and the 
reCtitude and friQnefs ef his moal prin- 
ciples. | This induced him to requeft of 
Méchain’s father, that during the winter, 
when at any rate all building is interrupted 
by the feverity of the weather, he would 
ovengineers, The father confented ; and 
our Méchain was received into the nobie- 
man’s houfe as tutor and domeftic-friend. 
The young men committed to his care 
meade fo rapid a progreis in the ftudy of 
mathematics, and his good condu& gave 
fuch fatisfaction, that the nobleman could 
not fufficiently exioi! his good fortune, to 
have found fo excellent a friend and in- 
fructor for his fons. 
Initead of a few weeks, therefore Mé- 
chain remained eighteen months in this 
houfe, where ne enjoyed the love and ef- 
teem of the whole family. He there be- 
caine acquainted with Abbe Poule, the ce- 
lebrated preacher, and with the learned 
De Champeaux; who torh honored him 
with their efeem and friendhip. Thefe- 
prudent and intelligent men, whofe minds 
were enlarged by a knowledge of the 
world, fcoa difcovered in their young 
fiend talents which could be developed 
and perfecied only on a mere extenfive the- 
atre: they therefore adviled him to go ta 
Paris ; and perfuaded bis father to place 
him in the excellently conduSted Ecole des 
poxts et chaujées, where he would not only 
receive the be!t praétical inftruction in ar- 
chitecture, but Itkewile in the courfe of 
time be well provided for. 
Furnifh:d with good letters of recom- 
mendation, Méchain accordingly proceed- 
ed to Paris; and was inimediately re- 
ceived into the {chool: bat it > was impof- 
fible for him to wait for an appointment in 
i:.—The conilirusion of this {chool was as 
follows: the pupi!s were obliged to main- 
tain themlelves ror feveral years at their 
own expence, and to wait an indeterminate 
time, fhorter or longer according to cir- 
cumfltances, till it came to their turn to be - 
promoted to an employment in the public — 
fervice. Gveat lofles and misfortunes hav- 
ing in this intgrval befallen his father, his 
before 
