In this controversy Condamine seems to have enjoy ed the greatest share of public suffrage. Bougucr was well known as having a suspicious and jealous temper, and to be more disposed to envy than to exalt the good name of his contemporaries. The mortifica tion which he felt at the applause given to Condamine, the natural irritability of his temper, and the death of his only brother, to whom he was ardently attached, seem to have had some share in injuring his bodily health, which an incessant application to study had been gradually undermining. He was seized with an obstruction of the liver, which, though it resisted the power of medicine, still permitted him to continue his studies. He laboured bard to complete his Traite d'Optigue, which he had just time to finish. A few days before his death, he went in a coach to his prin ter, and delivered the MS. into his hands. Exhaust ed with disease, he died on the 15th of August 1758, at the age of 60 years ; a time of life when much was expected from his industry and talents.
The character of Bougucr was distinguished by modesty and simplicity. The truths of religion were instilled into him along with the first principles of geometry, and had made such an impression upon his mind, as to regulate and adorn his moral conduct. On his death-bed he cherished the same views which had thus guided him through life, and he closed his existence with the most philosophical fortitude, and with a piety and resignation truly Christian.
In the year 1784, a very singular book was published at Paris, entitled Relation de la conversion, et de la wort de Bouguer, par P. La Berthonie Dominicain, which must contain some curious information respect ing the life and death of our author. We have searched diligently, but in vain, for this curious pro duction, which we have seen mentioned only by La Lande, in his Bibliographic Astronomique, with the following singular observation, " Cc confesseur," says La Lande, "assure que illustre academicien mourta dans les sentimens dune pietZ; exemplaire.
Le devotion de Newton est une preuve (le ce que peuvent l'habitude et la Crainte sur les plus Brands esprits." In this passage La Lande seems to admit the fact of Bouguer's conversion, and to ascribe it, as he does the piety of Newton, to the influence of custom and fear. We cannot stoop even to express rtIr detestation of the contemptible sneers, which this atheistical astronomer has so profusely heaped upon every thing like piety and religion. Had he reasoned against our faith, it might have been a duty to re fute him. But we have only to say, that if any of our readers should for one moment think lightly of religion, because such a character as La Lande has dared to attack it, we can assure them, upon the evidence of an eye-witness, that this very man thought differently in the decline of life, and was even seen strewing his house with flowers in honour of some Romish saint.
Beside the works of Bouguer, which we have had occasion to notice, he published Nouveau Traite de .."1"avigation, contenant la T/zeorie du Pilotage. Paris, 1753, 4to. An abridgement of this work by De La Caillc appeared in 1769, and it was reprinted in 1769 and 1781, and in 1792 with the notes of La Lande. Troia du Navire, Paris, 1756. Operations faires par l'ordre de l'?cademie Royale des Sciences, pour la verification du degre compris entre Paris et Amiens, par M. M. Bouguer, Camus, Cassini, De 2/zury, et Pingre. This memoir, composed by Bouguer, was also published in the Memoirs of the Academy for 1754. The papers on various subjects of physics and navigation, which Bouguer communi cated to the Academy, will be found in their Me moirs for 1726, 1731, 1732, 1733, 1734, 1735, 1736, 1739, 1744, 1745, 1746, 1747, 1748, 1749, 1750, 1751, 3752, 1753, 1754, 1755, 1757. (e)