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[257] this, at the École de Droit, heard Ducaurroy, on the ‘Institutes.’ I have already spoken of his manner. He was more animated than Pellat; he had his copy of the ‘Institutes’ before him, and read and expounded. From the scene of lectures I went to the Musee d'artillerie, which in one respect corresponds to the Tower of London. Here are the coats of arms of many of the kings and marshals of France, and of many of her renowned knights and commanders. . . . I was astonished by the weight of the armor, many of the suits weighing a hundred pounds, and some more, without including the sword or any offensive weapon, or even the buckler. No one who sees these remains of armor can wonder that many a knight fainted under the load. To bear a knight armed in complete steel must have required a steed of uncommon stoutness, especially when we consider that he was often loaded with armor as heavy as that of his master. Feb. 24. Visited the manufactory of the Gobelin tapestry. Feb. 25. To-day I ascended the monument in the Place Vendome, conceived and built by Napoleon. It is composed of the cannon taken at Austerlitz. There is genius characteristic of Napoleon in making the conquered cannon into a monument of victory; and the monument is a most beautiful one. It is an imitation of the pillar of Trajan at Rome, of which it preserves the proportions on a scale larger by a twelfth. Its elevation is one hundred and thirty feet, and from its top there is a fine view of Paris. Feb. 26. This morning heard Biot1 at the Sorbonne. He is an old gentleman, sixty-five perhaps, full of life and animation, and using his chalk and sponge with as much ardor as others do the dance. He was engaged at the blackboard making explanations and calculations with regard to the sun and moon. Astronomy, in its mathematical relations, seemed to be the subject. In manner, in quickness of expression and self-abandon, he was not unlike Professor Farrar.2 Also heard Poisson,3 another mathematician, who was equally animated, and who stood at his blackboard with his sponge and chalk. Next heard Valette4 at the Law School,—a man of about thirty-five, without having any thing particularly interesting about him. After that, took a long walk to the immense Hopital Salpetriere, where there are five thousand infirm and aged women, it being a great almshouse. As I left this establishment, I met on the sidewalk a person of rather humble appearance, of whom I asked some question, which enabled him to detect me as a foreigner. It seems that he understood a little English, and had read Sterne's
1 Jean Baptiste Biot, 1774-1862. He was one of the most eminent men of the century in mathematics, astronomy, and natural philosophy. He became a professor at the College of France as early as 1800. In 1804 he ascended in a balloon with Gay-Lussac, and, in 1806, accompanied Arago to Spain on a scientific expedition with which they were charged by the Government. He won fame in authorship as well as by his experiments and discoveries.
2 Jean Baptiste Biot, 1774-1862. He was one of the most eminent men of the century in mathematics, astronomy, and natural philosophy. He became a professor at the College of France as early as 1800. In 1804 he ascended in a balloon with Gay-Lussac, and, in 1806, accompanied Arago to Spain on a scientific expedition with which they were charged by the Government. He won fame in authorship as well as by his experiments and discoveries.
3 Simeon Denis Poisson, 1781-1840; a scientist of the highest attainments, specially distinguished in mathematical physics. He published several treatises, and contributed many articles to periodicals. In 1837 he was made a peer.
4 Claude Denis Auguste Valette, Professor of Civil Law, was born in 1805. In the National Assembly he was active in law reform.
Cambridge, MA. Press of John Wilson and Son. 1877.
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