n de
l'analyse aux probabilites des decisions prises a la pluralite des
voix_,--a remarkable work which has a distinguished place in the history
of the doctrine of probability; a second edition, greatly enlarged and
completely recast, appeared in 1804 under the title of _Elements du
calcul des probabilites et son application aux jeux de hazard, a la
loterie, et aux jugements des hommes, &c._ In 1786 he married Sophie de
Grouchy, a sister of Marshal Grouchy, said to have been one of the most
beautiful women of her time. Her _salon_ at the Hotel des Monnaies,
where Condorcet lived in his capacity as inspector-general of the mint,
was one of the most famous of the time. In 1786 Condorcet published his
_Vie de Turgot_, and in 1787 his _Vie de Voltaire_. Both works were
widely and eagerly read, and are perhaps, from a merely literary point
of view, the best of Condorcet's writings.

The political tempest which had been long gathering over France now
began to break and to carry everything before it. Condorcet was, of
course, at once hurried along by it into the midst of the conflicts and
confusion of the Revolution. He greeted with enthusiasm the advent of
democracy, and laboured hard to secure and hasten its triumph. He was
indefatigable in writing pamphlets, suggesting reforms, and planning
constitutions. He was not a member of the States-General of 1789, but he
had expressed his ideas in the electoral assembly of the noblesse of
Mantes. The first political functions which he exercised were those of a
member of the municipality of Paris (1790). He was next chosen by the
Parisians to represent them in the Legislative Assembly, and then
appointed by that body one of its secretaries. In this capacity he drew
up most of its addresses, but seldom spoke, his pen being more effective
than his tongue. He was the chief author of the address to the European
powers when they threatened France with war. He was keenly interested in
education, and, as a member of the committee of public instruction,
presented to the Assembly (April 21 and 22, 1792) a bold and
comprehensive scheme for the organization of a system of state education
which, though more urgent questions compelled its postponement, became
the basis of that adopted by the Convention, and thus laid the
foundations on which the modern system of national education in France
is built up. After the attempted flight of the king, in June 1791,
Condorcet was one of the first to declar