1807.] 
With a little more circumspection he might ~ 
have enjoyed that flattering consideration 
tillthe Jast moment of his life. But his 
imprudent frankness, that intrepidity with 
which he always expressed his opinions 
even in the most turbulent times, the 
blunt severity with which he combated 
systems formed by ignorance aud which 
eught only to have excited his pity, the 
habit he had contracted of continually pro- 
nouncing his opinion, even on subjects 
concerning which he might have been si- 
lent, excited the virulence of detraction, 
which even went so far as to dispute his 
real merit. His long and important. ser- 
vices were forgotten in the recollection of 
trivial failings. In certain discussions in 
which he was wrong only in respect to 
the manner, he was frequently loaded with 
abuse which he fortunately had the wis- 
dom to despise if he had not the prudence 
to prevent it. His character was a com- 
pound of great and commendable qua- 
ities and little singularities, which I pre- 
tend not either to justify or to dissem- 
ble. 
Connected with him by a friendship of 
more than twenty years, the confident of 
all his thoughts, I had certainly more than 
one opportunity of telling him the truth, 
which he loved, and to which he listened 
with patience even when it condemned 
himself. I may pronounce it once more 
when he can no longer hear me, and I 
may venture to do it, because his merits 
far outweigh the little blemishes which he 
exhibited. The time for justice is at 
Jength arrived. He can no longer injure 
his own reputation; it is secure against 
the attacks of the malevolent, who will 
doubtless respect his ashes. I therefore 
declare in the name of the society whose 
organ [ have the honour to be, and with- 
out the least fear of being contradicted 
by any of its members, that the colleague 
we have lost will long be regretted. He 
has rendered inestimable services to sci- 
ence, and will be useful to it even after 
his death. To the most extensive erudi- 
tion he added a strong and retentive me- 
mory and a lively and prompt conception. 
He was a man of rea! and highly distin- 
guished merit. It wil! be difficult to fill 
Eulogy on M. 
de Lalande. 255 
his place, and in some respects, perhaps, it 
will never be worthily supplied. He died 
at Paris on the 4th of April 1807, aged 
74 years and nine months, wanting a few 
days. 
After this harrangue which was heard 
with profound attention, M, Dupont de 
Nemours, member of the third class, ad- 
anced, and pronounced the following ad- 
dvess which excited the most lively in- 
terest ; 
““T beg leave to adda few words to 
the eloquent and impressive oration of 
the secretary. I have to relate a bene- 
nevolent action of our colleague de La- 
lande, of which I was the occasion and the 
object. After the 10th of August 1792, 
I had occasion for an asylum. M. Har- 
mand, who is now director of the pen- 
sions at the Treasury, then one. of M. de 
Lalande’s distinguished pupils, afforded me 
a retreat in the observatory des Quatre 
Nateons, the keys and direction of which 
had been committed to him by M. de> 
Lalande. He supplied all my wants. A 
requisition was issued for all the young 
men of M. Harmand’s age, and though 
married, he had reason to apprehend that 
be should likewise be obliged to depart, 
forthearmy. Under these circumstances 
he went to M. de Lalande, and made him 
acquainted with my situation, saying, if 
he leaves the Observatory he will be 
massacred; if ‘he remains there, he must 
perish with hunger.’ ¢ Run,’ replied M. 
de Lalande, ‘tell him not to be uneasy; [ 
will myself carry him a regular supply of 
food.’ This neither he nor M. Harmand. 
could do but at the risk of their own 
lives. My just vratitude is paid to his 
memory. May the God of heaven reward 
him! I hope he is already happy. He 
was more religious than he thought he was, 
since he always manifested a benevolent 
disposition, and approved himself a man 
of honour, probity, courage, aman full of 
activity for all useful things, and of love 
and zeal in behalf of his fellow-creatures. 
To unitate the great Benefactor, is the 
most worthy homage we can pay to the 
infinite goodness, the supreme intelli- 
gence which governs the Universe.” 
LETTERS 
