brother, and those of the quarto edition of Camoens, which I have just printed; but I consider myself as having been more useful, by giving to the public a collection of logarithmic tables, which present now, and always will, as long as they are reprinted, an entire freedom from faults; and by increasing the use of stereotype editions, which are of a nature to sustain and propagate the love of reading; as well as by printing writing letters without any interruption, especially a running hand called English, which has been cast and printed in England, but without success. A process by means of which, modes of handwriting can be prepared at a low rate for the children of the poor. The execution of maps is a more difficult matter, but I hope to succeed in it, and await your return to begin it.

"I learn with great pleasure that you are desirous of engraving the oriental characters when you return. Whether this will be advantageous in a commercial point of view, is of no consequence; but it will, no doubt, do you honour, and contribute to improve your taste for the study of languages. It is to be hoped that you will avail yourself of the corrections made by François Ambroise Didot, your grandfather, and Pierre Didot, your uncle, in their editions of French and Latin authors.'

This letter needs no commentary; the knowledge, the modesty of Firmin Didot, his disinterestedness, and his zeal for his art and for the public welfare, are perfectly apparent.

Another printer obtained a great name for his efforts in favour of the stereotype, towards 1802: this was Herhan. His methods were different from those of Firmin Didot; and his stereotype. editions, although of much value, could not be compared, for execution, to those of his skilful rival.

CHAPTER XXXII.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

NIFORMITY of weights, measures, and money, dates its first establishment from the period of the French Revolution.

"Some few measures," says M. Charles Dupin," from the frequency and universality of their use, were established by the concurrence of public opinion. Such were the measures of distances, of extent, of size, weight, time, and of venal value, or money."

These fundamental measures were fixed under the reign of Charlemagne.

After the death of this monarch, the supreme power falling into impotent hands, the empire was harassed by a rebellion, and feudal anarchy put unity to flight. Every province under the dominion of a great vassal, had its own money; every district, governed by a secondary vassal, had its local measures.

It may easily be imagined how much the general commerce of the kingdom suffered from this state of disorder, which became worse when monarchical rule regained the ascendency, and mercantile relations were extended and multiplied within as well as without.

Under the reign of Louis XI., the great vassals were vanquished, and all ancient France brought under the authority of one throne; and the States-general, convoked a few years afterwards, undertook a reformation in weights and coins, and, under their auspices, a uniform and regular system spread through all parts of France.

But, unfortunately, such was the want of balance in the

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higher powers, that the decrees of this assembly were forgotten as soon as received by the court.

In 1789, the States-general, become a constituent assembly, went beyond the mere utterance of vain complaints upon the important subject of measures and coins. They consulted the Academy of Sciences, who twice replied to the appeal through its most illustrious members: such as Borda, Condorcet, Lagrange, Laplace, Lavoisier, Monge, &c.

They entertained just views concerning the alloy, and the true standard of money, and established the necessity of a uniform subdivision in all species of measures, according to the decimal progression of arithmetic; and, aspiring to the highest degree of public utility attainable by a system of measures, endeavoured to procure a basis in the invariable elements of nature; one which could be measured with itself, with a close approximation, and continue unchangeable through all ages.

After much hesitation, the circumference of a terrestrial meridian was fixed upon as this basis; and, in accordance with a decree of the National Assembly, operations were begun in defiance of all obstacles arising from the spirit of the age, or the ignorance of the people.

The following anecdote will give an idea of the force of prejudice at that time :

The astronomer Mechain, one of those intrusted with measuring the meridian, was passing through Essone, a few leagues from Paris, when the municipal authority arrested him, under the strange idea that his instruments were so many secret agents of counter-revolution; and it was with the greatest difficulty that he obtained his liberty, and repaired to the southern part of the arc to be measured.

Shortly afterwards, a barbarism of the most odious nature reestablished itself in France. The Academy of Sciences, and all other literary institutions were suppressed. Schools of all kinds were abolished in town and country; and the rising generation bid fair to become one of savages.

This deplorable condition could not be of long duration. The Convention endeavoured to remedy the disorder. After the death of Robespierre, restorative measures were attempted. A central school of public works was founded in Paris; encouragement afforded to artists and men of letters; normal establishments for forming professors and primary schools, created throughout all France. It was then that the above-mentioned new system of weights and measures made a part of public instruction, and spread slowly to the commercial relations. The Institute of France replaced the old academies, and the most illustrious men of the age became members.

Other useful establishments arose during this stormy epoch, among which may be mentioned the Conservatory of Arts and Trades.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE CONSERVATORY OF ARTS AND TRADES.

IN 1775, the celebrated Vaucanson laid the corner-stone of this artistical and scientific museum. At his death, he bequeathed his collection of machines, at the Hôtel de Mortagne, to the king. But it was not until the last century, when this establishment was re

moved to the old abbey of Saint Martin, that the Conservatory of Arts and Trades was regularly organized.

It is destined for the reception of models, in miniature or otherwise, of plans, designs, machines, utensils, instruments, &c., used in agriculture, in manufactories, &c. The object of collecting these in one place is to make them subservient to the further development of the arts.

The Conservatory of Arts and Trades was not always what it now is. At first it consisted merely of a few machines or models, picked up here and there. But the disorders of the Revolution transferred to this establishment the collection made by the Royal Academy of Sciences, and enriched it besides with spoils from private collections, placed at the disposal of the government by the odious law of confiscation. Other countries have also contributed to enlarge and embellish this exhibition, where may be seen the cabinet of the natural philosopher, Charles, the first in Europe, and also various models of inventions which have gained a patent; but these are not exposed to the public gaze until the expiration of the patent-right.

The ancient and time-honoured abbey of Saint Martin has undergone many changes since it was first founded in the eleventh century. The tower containing the great bells, which so loudly called believers to the services of the church, is no more.

It