by Ken Alder
In pursuit of this goal: For Calon’s solicitation of Delambre, see SHAT 3M4, Calon to Delambre (at Bruyères-Libre), 12 brumaire III [2 November 1794]. For Calon’s assumption that Delambre was in prison, see Delambre, Grandeur, 216.
This law represented: For the development of the metric law, see Prieur, Rapport sur les moyens, read to the National Convention on 25 fructidor III [11 September 1794] (Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, vendémiaire IV [September–October 1794]). Prieur, PVCIP 5 (11 ventôse III [1 March 1795]): 551–63. The law of 1 vendémiaire IV [23 September 1795] declared that the use of the meter would become obligatory throughout Paris in three months, on 1 nivôse IV [22 December 1795]. For a lukewarm defense of decimal time, see Lagrange, PVCIP 3 (29 ventôse II [19 March 1794]): 605–6.
“rightly celebrated”: AN AFII 67 plaq. 496, Prieur, “Arrêté relatif aux poids et mesures,” 12 prairial III [31 May 1795].
“as soon as possible”: AOP E2-19, “Extrait de registre des déliberations du CIP,” 18 floréal III [7 May 1795]. See also PVCIP 6 (12 prairial III [31 May 1795]): 244–45, 247.
“I will endeavor”: AOP E2-19, Prieur to Delambre, 14 prairial III [2 May 1795].
“I would have accomplished”: AOP E2-19, Delambre to Méchain, 12 frimaire IV [3 December 1795]. See also Delambre, Grandeur, 217.
“It is true that until now”: ENPC MS726, Delambre, “Mesure du méridien,” 19 messidor II [9 July 1794]. PVCIP 5 (8 prairial III [27 May 1795]): 236. Delambre’s colleagues on the various committees spoke up on his behalf. AN F17 1135, ATPM, “Rapport présenté au CIP,” 29 floréal III [18 May 1795]; “Projet d’arrêté du CIP,” 8, 12 prairial III [27, 31 May 1795].
The team provisioned: On Delambre’s equipment, see BMR Tarbé XXI/137, Delambre, “Etat de dépense pour la mesure de la méridienne,” 1 ventôse V [19 February 1797]. His new assistant was named Plessis and had little astronomical experience.
the cathedral town of Bourges: On Bourges, see AOP E2-1, Delambre, “Reprise des opérations,” messidor II [June 1795]; KM, Delambre, Base, 1:210.
“who likewise rules”: Emile Mesle, Histoire de Bourges (Roanne: Horvath, 1988), 247–49.
at its peak turned: On the Bourges pelican, see AOP E2-6, Delambre, “Registre,” 279; AOP E2-19, Delambre to Méchain, 12 frimaire IV [3 December 1795].
Delambre’s expense book: For Delambre’s expenses, see BMR Tarbé XXI/137, Delambre, “Etat de dépense pour la mesure de la méridienne,” 1 ventôse V [19 February 1797].
He pleaded with General Calon: For Delambre’s plea to Calon for funds, see SHAT 3M4, Calon to Delambre, 26 thermidor III, 14, 22 vendémiaire, 29 brumaire IV [13 August, 6, 15 October, 20 November 1795]. For Delambre’s military rank, see AOP MS1033C, Delambre to Méchain, 17 fructidor III [3 September 1795]. For Méchain’s military rank, see AOP E2-19, Méchain to Delambre, 8 thermidor III [26 July 1795].
“The sans-culottes have destroyed”: AOP E2-19, Delambre to Méchain, 12 frimaire IV [3 December 1795].
“There is no soil”: Christophe Sauvageon, c. 1700, in Bernard Edeine, La Sologne: Contribution aux études d’ethnologie métropolitaine (Paris: Mouton, 1974), 193.
“It was enough for them “: Legier, “Traditions et usages de la Sologne,” Mémoires de l’Académie Celtique 2 (1808): 206. On the dindon, see Sauvageon, c. 1700, in Edeine, Sologne, 681–83.
The church in Vouzon: For a description of his work from Vouzon to Sainte-Montaine, see Delambre, Base, 1:180–204. See also AOP E2-6, Delambre, “Registre,” 336–61.
as a sign of “feudalism”: Delambre, Base, 1:203–6. See also AOP E2-6, Delambre, “Registre,” 312–35.
“Even those with the best”: Delambre to [Lavoisier?], quoted in Hélène Richard, “Dans le cadre de la ‘meridienne verte,’ ” Bulletin de la Société Archéologique de Puiseaux 29 (1999): 40.
Triste Sologne took Delambre: For his accuracy in Sologne, see Delambre, Grandeur, 235.
There was one thing: For Delambre’s request for information, see AOP MS1033C, Delambre to [Méchain], 13 fructidor III [3 September 1795].
SIX: FEAR OF FRANCE
Must it be ever thus: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther, Victor Lange, trans. (New York: Rinehart, [1774], 1959), 53.
“When war divides people”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 14 June 1794. For prior contacts between Slop and the French, see BUP MS167.11, Lalande to G. Slop, 21 October 1792; see also BUP MS168.1, Dépôt de la Marine to G. Slop, 2 March 1778. Josepho Slopio de Cadenberg [G. Slop], Theoriae cometarum (Pisa: Pizzornius, 1771).
“the famous Méchain”: BUP MS168.1, Branacci to G. Slop, 20 June 1794. For accounts of this period, see BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 21 June 1794; see also Oriani to Piazzi, 12 November 1794, in Correspondenza astronomica fra Giuseppe Piazzi e Barnaba Oriani (Milan: Hoepli, 1874), 31–32.
Slop had married: For the Slop family, see F. Menestrina, “L’astronomo Giuseppe Slop e la sua famiglia,” Studi Trentini di scienze storiche 26 (1947): 3–24, 127–50.
“I will tell my wife”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 2 August 1794.
“You are the only one”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 4 October 1794. We can infer that Méchain told G. Slop all this because his subsequent letters assume G. Slop’s prior knowledge, including knowledge of the Mont-Jouy results; see BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, [27 September 1794].
“I opened my heart”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 4 October 1794. We can infer that Méchain swore G. Slop to silence based on his demand that G. Slop burn his letters and keep them secret. It is unlikely, however, that G. Slop burned any of the letters, since there are almost no breaks in the weekly correspondence.
The terrain was rough: For Méchain’s arrival in Genoa, see BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 12 July 1794. Méchain was still lodged at the Albergo del Leon d’Oro on the Piazza de Scolopi in late October; see AOP B4-10, Oriani to Méchain, 22 October 1794.
For the past century: On Genoa in the run-up to the Revolution, see Lalande, Voyage en Italie, 2nd ed. (Paris: Desaint, 1786): 8:292–390; René Boudard, Gênes et la France dans la deuxième moitié du XVIIIe siècle (Paris: Mouton, 1962), 77–80, 173–76; Pietro Nurra, “Genova durante la rivoluzione francese: un conspiratore: il patrizio Luca Gentile,” Giornale storico della Liguria, new series, 4 (1928): 124–31.
Indeed, three days after: On Napoleon’s visit, see Napoleon, Correspondance de Napoléon I (Paris: Plon, 1858), 1:54–55, 61–64. Théodore Jung, Bonaparte et son temps, 1769–1799 (Paris: Charpentier, 1883), 2:438–40; Pietro Nurra, “La missione del Generale Bonaparte à Genova nel 1794,” in La Liguria nel Risorgimento (Genoa: Dalla sede del Comitato, 1925); Ramsay Weston Phipps, The Armies of the First French Republic (London: Oxford University Press, 1931), 3:231–32.
“the same political order”: BUP MS169.15, Tranchot to F. Slop, 16 August 1794. For Méchain’s view of Robespierre’s fall, see BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 9 August 1794.0
“Bois-le-Duc is ours”: BUP MS169.15, Tranchot to F. Slop, 25 October 1794.
“I feel, as you do”: BUP MS169.15, Tranchot to F. Slop, 11 October 1794.
“think it ill-intentioned”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 2 August 1794.
he was impatient: On Tranchot’s frustration, see BUP MS169.15, Tranchot to F. Slop, [November 1794].
“For a long time now”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 9 August 1794.
“obscure corner”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 2 August 1794.
“Perhaps she only embellishes”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 10 September 1794.
“But forgive me”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 25 August 1794.
“You are now reading”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 25 August 1794.
definitively abandoned,” “for which I have,” and “For it matters little”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 20 September 1794.
“All of which throws”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 20 September 1794.
“As you can see”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, [27 September 1794].
with Méchain appointed: For Méchain’s discussion of his appointment, see BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 4 October 1794. Méchain heard from Calon in SHAT 3M4, Calon to Méchain, 13 vendémiaire II [4 October 1794]. Further discussion in BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 18 October 1794.
“Oh, how well I see”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 18 October 1794.
“In my last letter”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 4 October 1794.
Yet even after telling Méchain: For Méchain’s relay of the news from Lalande, see BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 4 October 1794. For Lalande’s expectation that Méchain would soon return, see AAS 1J4, Lalande, “Journal,” 69–70.
“[My friends] tell me”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 18 October 1794.
“I have been through”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 20 September 1794.
Tranchot went down: For Tranchot’s preparations, see BUP MS169.15, Tranchot to F. Slop, 25 October 1794.
“on the thirteenth”: AOAB Cart. 88, Méchain to Oriani, 2 October 1794. On Oriani’s trip to Paris in 1786, see A. Mandrino, G. Tagliaferri, and P. Tucci, eds., Un viaggio in Europa nel 1786: Diario di Barnaba Oriani (Milan: Olschki, 1994), 145, 147, 152, 154.
“one of the best hotels”: Boudard, Gênes, 308; AOP C6-6, Méchain, “A Gênes sur la terrasse de l’hôtel du grand Cerf,” 16 October 1794. Méchain was aware that Zach had observed from the same hotel terrace in 1787; see AOAB Cart. 88, Méchain to Oriani, 27 December 1794. Zach also visited Méchain while he was Italy; see BI MS2042 fol. 323, Delambre, “Zach, Journal de Gotha,” [1810s].
“It is desirable”: AOP B4-10, Oriani to Méchain, 22 October 1794.
“For you are not destined”: SHAT 3M4, Calon to Méchain, 13 pluviôse III [1 February 1795].
So Méchain concocted: For Méchain’s proposals for delay, including his pendulum experiment; see BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 2, 9, 16 August 1794. Méchain worried that the refraction project would be read as a “pretext” for deferring his return to France; see AOAB Cart. 88, Méchain to Oriani, 5 November 1794.
“a friend of the arts”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to F. Slop, 25 October 1794.
“I was still hesitating”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 22 November 1794.
“Our ambassador here”: AOAB Cart. 88, Méchain to Oriani, 20 November 1794.
“order and tranquility”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 6 December 1794.
“For your eyes only”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 17 January 1795.
“You see that I am”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 7 February 1795.
Méchain exhibited: For a contemporary nosology of melancholy, see Philippe Pinel, A Treatise on Insanity, D. D. Davis, trans. (Sheffield: Todd, [1801], 1806), 136–49, 222–34.
A nameless colleague: For Méchain’s claim that one of his Paris colleagues—perhaps Lalande—had “moved heaven and earth” to prevent him from getting the pendulum, see AOAB Cart. 88, Méchain to Oriani, 12 February 1795. For the sale of the circle, see AOAB Cart. 88, Méchain to Oriani, 12, 28 February, 5, 14 March, 2 April 1795.
One purpose of these: On refraction, see AOAB Cart. 88, Méchain to Oriani, 27 December 1794; see also BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, [27 September 1794]. Méchain conducted these observations in the company of Francesco Pezzi, captain of the engineering corps and mathematics professor at the University of Genoa. Pezzi was also involved in anti-oligarchy politics. Nurra, “Genova durante la rivoluzione,” 124–31. The Barcelona results were published as Méchain, “Eclipses de soleil et occultations d’étoiles,” Ephemerides astronomicae anni 1795 (Milan: Galeatrium, 1794), 81–83. Méchain discovered a typographical error in the published Mont-Jouy latitude, which should have read 41°21'45'', not 41°21'25". See AOAB Cart. 88, Méchain to Oriani, 29 November 1794, 2 April 1795.
In late December: Esteveny left Genoa on 22 December 1794 and arrived in Paris on 25 January 1795; see AOAB Cart. 88, Méchain to Oriani, 27 December 1794; BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 17 January 1795; SHAT 3M5, Calon to Méchain, 13 pluviôse III [1 February 1795]; AN F12 1288, Ginguieni, “Rapport,” 22 pluviôse III [10 February 1795].
“very sought after”: AOAB Cart. 88, Tranchot to Oriani, 27 December 1794, 2 April 1795.
“According to Monsieur Méchain”: BUP MS169.15, Tranchot to F. Slop, 4 April 1794.
“[G]iven what I have seen”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 4 October 1794.
“You will not find yourself”: SHAT 3M5, Calon to Méchain, 13 pluviôse III [1 February 1795].
“But the die is cast”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 4 April 1795.
Tranchot had been tracking: For Tranchot’s tracking of the war, see BUP MS169.15, Tranchot to F. Slop, 8 November 1794, 21 February 1795, 24 ventôse 1795 [14 March 1795], 4 April 1795; Phipps, Armies of the first French Republic, 3:234–36.
“All men of genius”: Napoleon to Oriani, 5 prairial IV [24 May 1796], in Napoleon, Correspondance, 1:491–92. On Slop’s son, see Menestrina, “Slop.”
Méchain’s colleagues: On the assumption that Méchain was coming north, see Delambre, Base, 1:61.
“I know he does not want”: BUP MS168.1, Méchain to G. Slop, 4 October 1794. On Calon’s plans for Tranchot, see Berthaut, Ingénieurs géographes, 164.
“We got on well together”: AOP E2-19, Méchain to Lalande, 13 thermidor III [31 July 1795]. For Méchain’s complaints to Delambre, see AOP E2-19, Méchain to Delambre, 8 thermidor III [26 July 1795].
“I must at last defer”: SHAT 3M4, Calon to Méchain, 28 thermidor III [15 August 1795].
From Sette the team: For Méchain’s arrival in Perpignan, see BML, Méchain to Calon, 13 fructidor III [30 August 1795]. For the story of the carriage, see Delambre, Grandeur, 216.
SEVEN: CONVERGENCE
“And every space”: William Blake, Milton: Book the First, in The Portable Blake, Alfred Kazin, ed. (New York: Penguin, 1974), 433.
“I ask you all these”: AOP E2-19, Méchain to Delambre, 8 thermidor III [26 July 1795].
“The Commission will”: AOP MS1033c, Delambre to [Méchain], 13 fructidor III [3 September 1795].
“Your information offers me” and “the comparison of results”: AOP E2-19, Méchain to Delambre, 12–23 vendémiaire IV [4–15 October 1795].
Méchain recoiled from: For Méchain’s horror of publication, see Delambre, Notice historique sur M. Méchain, 30.
“Why do you speak”: AOP E2-19, Delambre to Méchain, 12 frimaire IV [3 December 1795].
“I make so bold”: AOP E2-19, Delambre to Méchain, 12 frimaire IV [3 December 1795].
“I am a bachelor” and “that day will mark”: AOP E2-19, Delambre to Méchain, 12 frimaire IV [3 December 1795].
On his way to Dunkerque: On Delambre’s passage through Paris, see AAS 1J4, Lalande, “Journal” (22 frimaire IV [13 December 1795]), 73; see also AN F17 3702, Delambre to Min. Int., 28 frimaire IV [19 December 1795]. On the Academy elections, see PVCIP 6:832–36. Méchain was appointed to the astronomy section, along with Lalande, in the first round, but only after some backroom jockeying; the four other places in astronomy, elected in the second round of voting by those appointed in the first round, were taken by Le Monnier, Pingré, Messier, and Cassini IV. This meant that Delambre was elected to the mathematics section in the second round, though by his own admission this was not the appropriate section for him. See Delambre, “Lui-même.”
“and you should satisfy”: CUS, Lalande to Delambre, 2 pluviôse IV [22 January 1796].
Instead, Delambre took pains: For Delambre’s observations at Dunkerque, see Delambre, Base, 2:249–96.; AOP E2-16, Delambre, “Registre: Méridien de France, Partie du nord,” vol. 2; AOP MS1033c, Delambre, “Hauteur du pole à Dunkerque,” [1795–96]; Delambre to [Janvier?], 2 pluviôse IV [22 January 1796], in Adolphe Desboves, Delambre et Ampère (Amiens: Hecquet, 1881), 32–33.
“Once a
n observation was taken”: Delambre, Grandeur, 239–40.
“It was never completely”: Delambre, Grandeur, 279.
“much zeal”: AOP MS1033c, Delambre to Méchain, 17 fructidor III [3 September 1795].
“Bellet thinks he can see”: AOP E2-1, Delambre, “Reprise des opérations,” 9 fructidor III [26 August 1795].
“No doubt”: AOP E2-19, Méchain to Delambre, 12 floréal IV [1 May 1796]. Méchain queried Lalande about Delambre’s observations in March, especially for his data on other stars; see AOP E2-19, Méchain to Lalande, 11 ventôse IV [1 March 1796].
“Indeed, these are perhaps”: AOP E2-19, Delambre to Méchain, floréal IV [mid-May 1796]. In this letter Delambre admits to having received Méchain’s letter of 12 floréal IV [1 May 1796].
“I could never claim” and “That task is done”: AOP E2-19, Delambre to Méchain, floréal IV [mid-May 1796].
Wine and any other “succor”: SHAT 3M4, Calon to Méchain, 26 thermidor III [13 August 1795]. For costs, see AOP E2-19, Méchain to Delambre, 12–23 vendémiaire IV [4–15 October 1795].
“and that’s no jeremiad”: AOP E2-19, Méchain to Lalande, 1 ventôse IV [1 March 1796]. On the delicate subject of Tranchot’s pay, see SHAT 3M4, Calon to Méchain, 9 nivôse IV [30 December 1795]. On the inflated salaries, see BL, “Procès-verbaux,” 22 pluviôse IV [11 February 1796].
“Never believe, Citizen”: BML, Méchain to Calon, 13 fructidor III [30 August 1795].
The assistants Calon had sent: Méchain got rid of Décuve first, and Bouvet that winter; see BA MS P2100, Méchain to Calon, 5 ventôse IV [24 February 1796].
The summit of Mont Forceral: For Forceral, see AOP E2-19, Méchain to Delambre, 12–23 vendémiaire IV [4–15 October 1795].
“I trembled with fear”: AOP E2-19, Méchain to Lalande, 3 brumaire IV [25 October 1795].
“Quand Lauro”: Gaston Jourdanne, Contribution au folk-lore de l’Aude (Paris: Maisonneuve, 1973), 28; for sinagries, see p. 22. On modern local folklore, see ADAu D2441, Roger Antoni, Rennes-le-Château ou la mystification biblique (Montreal: Chez l’auteur, n.d.).