In reviewing the events of Condorcet's life, it is no difficult matter to form a tolerably correct estimate of his attainments and character. He was deeply and ex tensively acquainted with the mathematical sciences ; and the memoirs which he transmitted on these subjects to the Academy, contain the presages of a greater genius than he ever brought to maturity. As an elegant writer, he was scarcely inferior to his friend and associate the illustrious D'Alembert ; and, had his ambition never carried him beyond the bounds of literature and science, his name might have been cherished by posterity, and ranked among those great men who have done honour to their species. But Condorcet aspired at still higher distinction. In the political state of his country, he perceived some distant prospect of reaching the object of his wishes, and he strove, both by his conduct and his writings, to accelerate that dreadful revolution in which he I)imself was destined to perish. Dazzled u ith false views of human character, his political 1%1.16. gs are marked with opinions the most absurd and exti •agant, and subversive of every species of social order ai d hap piness ; and, much as we are disposed to reprob to the calumnies wnich have been heaped upon the most illus trious of the French philosophers, we are compiled to admit, that Condorcet was an infidel,.and even an atheist. Although he displayed the utmost courage in writ ings, yet, when he was called to act, he evinced the greatest timidity and indecision. The restlessness of his mind instigated him to act a part which he not for titude to sustain ; and the same timidity of o.,position was conspicuous in the manner in which lie died. It is impos:,ible to think of the latter days of this celebrated man, without feeling acutely for the sufferings, under the pressure of which he put an end to his life ; but it is impossible also not to acknowledge, that he perished in a tumult which he had been the most active to create.
The following is a list of the works written by Con dorcet, which are either noticed or printed in the Me moirs of the French Academy : 1. Traite du Calcul Integral, 1765, Ilist. p. 54.
2. Du Probleme des trois Corps, 1767, Hist. p. 93.
3. Ecclaircissenzens sur le Calcul Integral; 1767, Hist.
P. 4. Sur la nature des suites infinies, sur l'etendue des solutions qu'ellcs donnent, et sur one nouvelle znethode ' d'approximation pour les equations differentielles de tour les ordres, 1769, p. 193.
5. Sur les Equations aux differences Jiarticlles, 1770, p. 108, Hist. p. 69.
6. Sur les Equations differentielles 1770, p. 191, Hist. p. 69.
7. Addition aux Memoires de M. de Condorcet, p. 108, 151, and 171, of the volume for 1770, p. 615.
8. Sur la determination des fonctions arbitraires qui entrent dans les integrales des Equations aux differences partielles, 1771, p. 49.
9. Refiexions sur les methodes d'approxinzation, con nues jusyzeici tour les Equations differentielles. Id. p. 281.
10. Theorenzes sur les quadratures. Id. p. 693.
11. Recherches de Calcul Integral. 1772. p. 1.
12. Memoire sur le Calcul des Probabilites, 1781, p. 707.
13. Suite du Menzoire sur le Calcul des Probabilites, 3d part, 1782, p. 674.
14. Do. do. 4th part, 1783, p. 539.
15. Essai sur le Population du Royaunze, par Messrs Du Sejour, le Marquis de Condorcct, et de La Place, 1784.
16. Suite du Ilkmoire sur le Calcul des Probabilites, 1784, p. 454.
17. Suite de l'Essai pour connoitre le Population du Royaunze, par Messrs Du Sejour, lc Marquis De Con dorcet, et M. de la Place, 1784.
18. Do. 1785. p. 661.
19. Do. 1786, p. 703.
20. Do. 1787, p. 601.
21. Do. 1788, p. 755 (o)