In the meantime, however, his studies were impeded, though not suspended, by an appointment to the post of Secretaire de l'Intendance at Grenoble. His conduct in this office, which he held for three years, would seem to have given entire satisfaction, since, when M. Turgot was commissioned in 1764 to superintend the improve ments which the government were endeavouring to in troduce at Cayenne, Montucla was nominated to accom pany him in the character of secretary, dignified also with the title of Astronomer Royal. Of Montucla's celestial observations we have no account, but the sci ence of botany is indebted to him for the knowledge of se veral equinoctial plants brought home on his return, which happened in 1766. After this short absence, he became chief clerk to the overseers of the king's build ings. In the discharge of that easy duty, Montucla en joyed a competence, and found leisure to prosecute his inquiries concerning his favourite subject. The stormy factions, which desolated France during the revolution, seem to have left him unharmed, till 1792, when his office was abolished by the republican government, and the historian of mathematics was left exposed in his old age to all the calamities of want. It is painful to re late, that the man, whose respectable character ought to have secured him esteem and patronage,.even if his arduous labours in the cause of science had not bene fited mankind, was unable to gain the necessaries of life, except by consigning those talents which had illus trated the highest achievements of our species, to the management of a lottery-office It was not till within a few months of his death that a scanty pension of 1001.
from the government raised him above the miseries of abject poverty. But, in the midst of these depressing circumstances, Montucla did not forget his promise to complete the history of mathematics. Forty years of ap plication had greatly augmented his knowledge of the subject ; the second edition of his work, begun in 1795, was enriched with many new details in the period be fore examined, and the relation might have been con• ducted with equal skill to the proposed termination, had not death put a stop to his exertions, on the 15th of De cember 1799. Happily his manuscripts were in such a state as to be capable of publication. The printing of the first part was continued without interruption ; and M. de la Lande, in 1802, arranged the remaining papers into two additional volumes, which continue the history to the beginning of the 19th century. Montucla was a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Berlin, and of the French Institute, from its commence ment. His manners are said to have been amiable, his disposition kindly and generous. The Recreations Ftlathe rnatiques et Physiques of Ozanam, which he edited in 1778, is the only work connected with him that has been translated into English. (T. c.)