Page:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Vol 4.djvu/378

Rh 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

De La Rive, which forms part of the ComjJie rendu de VHat de fmstruciion publique de Geiicve jjendant Vannee scolaire, 1839-1840.
 * The above account is derived from a biographical notice by Professor