Still there is his protest against the proposal of D'Alembert, who recommended that after a selection of facts had been made at the end of every century the remainder should be delivered to the flames.

"Let us preserve them all," he says, "most carefully.

A Montesquieu will detect in the most insignificant, relations which the vulgar overlook." He resented the haughty pretensions of the mathematical sciences to universal dominion, with sufficient vigour to have satisfied Auguste Comte.

"Physics and mathematics are at present on the throne.

They see their sister sciences prostrate before them, chained to their chariot, or at most occupied in adorning their triumph.