CONDAMINE, CHARLES MARIA DE LA, a celebra ted French traveller and philosopher, was born at Paris on the 28th January 1701, and was the son of Charles de la Condamine, receiver-general of finances for the province of Bourbonnois, and of Margaret Louisa de Chources. At an early age he was sent to school, where he exhibited no marks either of industry or talents ; and he was afterwards instructed in literature and philosophy at the College of Louis le Grand, under P. Purée and P. Brisson, the latter of whom, even so late as 1717, still taught the philosophy of Descartes.
A fter quitting college, Condamine went as a volunteer to the siege of Roses in 1719, along with his uncle the Chevalier de Chources, who was captain of the Dauphin's regiment of cavalry. in the course of this siege, Con damine displayed a degree of courage bordering on te merity; and he was on one occasion found upon an emi nence, examining through a telescope one of the enemy's batteries, the balls from which were falling thick around him. This carelessness and contempt of danger, which was afterwards a predominant feature in the character of our author, he had exhibited on a very different occasion, and at an early period. 'When he was scarcely twelve years of age, he went on a visit to the country ; and hav ing learned that one of the fields near the house where he lived was visited by an apparition, he requested two of the domestics to conduct him to the park. They had scarcely reached the spot, when his two attendants fled with terror at the sight of the apparition, who, clothed in white, advanced towards them. Condamine kept his po sition, and having drawn a sword which he had conceal ed under his coat, he broke it in pieces upon his spiritual opponent. " The phantom is corporeal," he cried, " and has broken my sword." The coachman instantly emerged from his white covering, and acknowledged, tl at the plan was laid to try the courage of Conda mine.
Although Condamine was particularly qualified for a military life by his intrepidity and personal courage, yet the ardour of his mind, and his indefatigable curiosity, prompted him to abandon a profession which, in the time of peace, presented few opportunities for the gratification of his favourite views. lie henceforth resolved to devote
himself to the sciences ; and in the year 1730, he was ad mitted into the Academy of Sciences as adjunct chemist, and was already well known as one of the most active members of the Society of Arts, established at Paris by the Count de Clermont.
In the year 1731, Condamine embarked on board the squadron commanded by M. du Guay-Tronin, and visited many pans of the Mediterranean, and the coasts of Africa and Asia. In his way from Jerusalem to Constantinople, Condamine stopped at Bassa, the ancient Paphos. A Greek, who had been in the same vessel with him, was taken suddenly ill, and entrusted Condamine with 50 piastres, to be given to his parents. The Cadi of the place having insisted on appropriating this money to his own use. Condamine protested that he would give it to nu person but to the parents of his companion, and immedi ately set off for his vessel. A Titafa, an officer of po lice, with a numerous detachment, attempted to arrest Condamine and his servant ; but after having resisted their attempts for some time, they at last sought for safety in flight, and favoured by the darkness of the evening, they escaped to a boat, and endeavoured to regain their essel. Finding it impossible, however, to reach the ship before break of day, and being exposed to the fire of the fort and of the Turkish vessels, they were compell ed to surrender, and were carried half naked before the officer of police, who again demanded the 50 piastres. Condamine persisted in refusing them, complained of the barbarous treatment he had received, and threaten ing the Titafa with the vengeance of the Divan; he was at last set at liberty. After remaining five mouths at Constantinople, he returned to Paris, and published some account of his travels in a paper read to the Academy, and entitled Observations Mathematiques et Physiques faites dans un Voyage du Levant, en 1731 et 1732. Another account of his travels was published in 1734, by his valet de chambre, and without the consent of Condamine.