endeavoured to inspire the officers of the establishment with
enthusiasm for that systematic work which is so necessary for the
accomplishment of useful astronomical research. It must, however, be
admitted that Le Verrier was not gifted with those natural qualities
which would make him adapted for the successful administration of
such an establishment. Unfortunately disputes arose between the
Director and his staff. At last the difficulties of the situation
became so great that the only possible solution was to supersede Le
Verrier, and he was accordingly obliged to retire. He was succeeded
in his high office by another eminent mathematician, M. Delaunay,
only less distinguished than Le Verrier himself.

Relieved of his official duties, Le Verrier returned to the
mathematics he loved. In his non-official capacity he continued to
work with the greatest ardour at his researches on the movements of
the planets. After the death of M. Delaunay, who was accidentally
drowned in 1873, Le Verrier was restored to the directorship of the
observatory, and he continued to hold the office until his death.

The nature of the researches to which the life of Le Verrier was
subsequently devoted are not such as admit of description in a
general sketch like this, where the language, and still less the
symbols, of mathematics could not be suitably introduced. It may,
however, be said in general that he was particularly engaged with the
study of the effects produced on the movements of the planets by
their mutual attractions. The importance of this work to astronomy
consists, to a considerable extent, in the fact that by such
calculations we are enabled to prepare tables by which the places of
the different heavenly bodies can be predicted for our almanacs. To
this task Le Verrier devoted himself, and the amount of work he has