language, has just arrived in England from--America.] and the
THEORIE ANALYTIQUE DES PROBABILITES, were both dedicated, by
Laplace, to Napoleon. During the reign of that extraordinary
man, the triumphs of France were as eminent in Science as they
were splendid in arms. May the institutions which trained and
rewarded her philosophers be permanent as the benefits they have
conferred upon mankind!

In other countries it has been found, and is admitted, that a
knowledge of science is a recommendation to public appointments,
and that a man does not make a worse ambassador because he has
directed an observatory, or has added by his discoveries to the
extent of our knowledge of animated nature. Instances even are
not wanting of ministers who have begun their career in the
inquiries of pure analysis. As such examples are perhaps more
frequent than is generally imagined, it may be useful to mention
a few of those men of science who have formerly held, or who now
hold, high official stations in the governments of their
respective countries.


Country. Name. Department of Public Office.
Science.

France .. Marquis Laplace[1] Mathematics President of the
Conservative
Senate.

France .. M.Carnot Mathematics Minister of War.