ALEMBERT, JOHN LF. Roan D', one of the most il lustrious mathematicians and literary characters of the 18th century, was born at Paris on the 17th November, 1717. Being exposed by his mother, Madame de Ten cin, near the church of St Jean le Rond, Irom which he derives his name, the infant, in a state of extreme weak ness, and almost dying, was carried to a commissary, who placed it under the charge of a glazier's wife, with whom it might receive that kind of alleviation of dis tress which a public hospital could not easily supply. A few days had scarcely elapsed, till M. Destouches, the fa ther of D'Alembert, heard of the commissary's humanity, and under the impulse of duty and feeling, provided for the education and independence of the child.
D'Alembert received the first elements of learning from the Jansenists of the College of the Four Nations. He had acquired, at the age of 10, all that his masters could teach him; and in his early progress, as well as in a Commentary which he wrote on the Epistle to the Romans, he exhibited proofs of that brilliant genius which has conducted him to immortal fame. Proud of the talents of their young pupil, the Jansenists com pared him to the celebrated Pascal, and endeavoulvd to perfect the resemblance by directing his attention to the mathematical sciences. Here the genius of D'Alem bert found its proper field of exertion ; and though the Jansenists, who perceived his passion for the sciences, used every means to unfix his attachment, yet nothing could induce him to abandon a study, where truth, un mixed with error, is the splendid reward of investiga tion.' After quitting the college, D'Alembert naturally looked around him for some tranquil retreat. Finding himself alone in the world, without a relation, and with out a home, he sought an asylum in the house of his nurse, where he continued for 40 years, prosecuting his favourite studies ; concealing from her the celebrity which he had gained ; and contributing, by his genero sity, to the comfort of her domestic circle. His nurse, who had heard him spoken of as the author of several works, beheld him with pity rather than admiration. " You will never," said she, " be any thing but a philo sopher; and what is a philosopher but a fool, who tor ments himself during his life, that people may talk of him when he is no more." While D'Alembert was pursuing with ardour the study of geometry, many original views presented them selves to his penetrating mind ; and lie began to feel that high elevation of soul NVIIteil the ti ISCOV ry ul truth, and the anticipation of lame, never fail to inspire. But
this fever of delight did not long continue. As he be came acquainted with the writings of tuners, he saw with vexation that he had been anticipated in his disco veries ; and finding himself stripped of the first fruits of his talents, he abandoned his mind to melancholy and despair. He thought that Heaven had denied him ge nius, and that he was tor ever doomed to tread in the footsteps of Isis predecessors. But the love of study, which still animated his breast, prevented the surrender of his mind to the first suggestions of di,appointment.
The fortune of 1200 Byres a-year, which D'Alembert enjoyed, being scarcely sufficient to maintain a com fortable independence, he resolved, at the earnest soli citation of his friends, to follow one of the learned pro fessions. After taking his second degree in arts, he commenced the study of jurisprudence; but as his mind was perpetually turning to its favourite pursuits, the whole time of his law noviciate was consumed in the study of mathematics. With a degree of patience, how ever, which could scarcely have been expected, he took out his law degrees, and was admitted an advocate ; but his predominant passion overruled every motive of pru dence, and induced him to relinquish a prolession which afforded no scope for the display either of his taste or genius. Tile pressing entreaties of his friends again turned his thoughts to the necessity of engaging in some lucrative employment. In the proEssain of' me dicine he perceived room for the exercise of his talents; and with a bold, though short-lived resolution, he deter mined to follow it with all the energy of his mind. He even conveyed to a friend the whole of his mathennitical works, lest his attention might be distracted with the recollection of early studies; but this measure, bold as it was, soon proved to be ineffectual. Neither the lux uries oil opulence, nor the dread of poverty, could over come the powerful attachments which he had formed : His mathematical books gradually returned into his li brary : The study of medicine was prosecuted with in creasing languor, and his whole soul was again absorb ed in the study of geometry.