Paris, which he termed "an incomparable focus of study." He devoted
himself to mathematics and science, he made himself beloved by all,
and his mind wandered far from his daily occupation. The engineer in
chief soon complained of him, but a committee appointed to investigate
the charges that had been made against him affirmed that he was free
from any reproach. He was sent back to his post, but war was
decimating the resources of France, and the republic, while Bonaparte
was in Italy, no longer had any time to pay its engineers. Lebon wrote
some pressing letters to the minister, asking for the sums due on his
work, but all of them remained without reply. His wife went to Paris,
but her applications were fruitless. She wrote herself to the minister
the following letter, which exists in the archives of the School of
Bridges and Roads:

"Liberty, equality, fraternity--Paris. 22 Messidor, year VII. of
the French Republic, one and indivisible--the wife of Citizen
Lebon to Citizen Minister of the Interior:

"It is neither alms nor a favor that I ask of you, it is
justice. I have for two months been languishing at 120 leagues
from my household. Do not, by further delay, force the father of
a family, for want of means, to leave a state for which he has
sacrificed everything. ... Have regard for our position,
citizen. It is oppressive, and my demand is just. There is more
than one motive to persuade me that my application will not be
fruitless with a minister who makes it a law and duty for
himself to be just.

"Greeting and esteem. Your devoted fellow-citizen,