rn to Auxerre, the young geometer found the town, the
surrounding country, and even the school to which he belonged, occupied
intensely with the great questions relative to the dignity of human
nature, philosophy, and politics, which were then discussed by the
orators of the different parties of the National Assembly. Fourier
abandoned himself also to this movement of the human mind. He embraced
with enthusiasm the principles of the Revolution, and he ardently
associated himself with every thing grand, just, and generous which the
popular impulse offered. His patriotism made him accept the most
difficult missions. We may assert, that never, even when his life was at
stake, did he truckle to the base, covetous, and sanguinary passions
which displayed themselves on all sides.

A member of the popular society of Auxerre, Fourier exercised there an
almost irresistible ascendency. One day--all Burgundy has preserved the
remembrance of it--on the occasion of a levy of three hundred thousand
men, he made the words honour, country, glory, ring so eloquently, he
induced so many voluntary enrolments, that the ballot was not deemed
necessary. At the command of the orator the contingent assigned to the
chief town of the Yonne formed in order, assembled together within the
very enclosure of the Assembly, and marched forthwith to the frontier.
Unfortunately these struggles of the forum, in which so many noble lives
then exercised themselves, were far from having always a real
importance. Ridiculous, absurd, and burlesque motions injured
incessantly the inspirations of a pure, sincere, and enlightened
patriotism. The popular society of Auxerre would furnish us, in case of
necessity, with more than one example of those lamentable contrasts.
Thus I might say that in the very same apartment wherein Fourier knew
how to excite the honourable sentiments which I have with pleasure
recalled to mind, he had on another occasion to contend with a certain
orator, perhaps of good intentions, but assuredly a bad astronomer, who,
wishing to escape, said he, from _the good pleasure_ of municipal
rulers, proposed that the names of the north, east, south, and west
quarters should be assigned by lot to the different parts of the town of
Auxerre.

Literature, the fine arts, and the sciences appeared for a moment to
flourish under the auspicious influence of the French Revolution.
Observe, for example, with what grandeur of conception the reformation
of