MEMOIRS

OF THE

LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF

BLAISE PASCAL.

To record the principal events in the lives of

those whose talents have distinguished them in society, has always been considered as an useful undertaking. We naturally wish to be acquainted with those who delight or instruct us, and to whose labours we feel ourselves indebted. Biographical memoirs, if faithfully compiled, gratify this wish, and bring us, as it were, into some degree of intimacy with those who are the subjects of them. By following men of superior abilities into private life, and tracing their pro

gress from infancy to manhood, we seem to bring them down more to our own level; and to obtain double instruction from them, while we contemplate the difficulties with which they have struggled, the infirmities with which they have been afflicted, and the mistakes into which they may have occasionally fallen.

But we are still more interested when we behold a genius of the first order, displaying early marks of extraordinary powers, growing up with peculiar advantages to quick maturity, devoted to the most useful and solid purposes, struggling with a long and painful disease, and cut off by death while yet in his bloom. Examples of this kind loudly proclaim to us the uncertain tenure, and comparative vanity of human life; while, on the other hand, they teach us, that they who make but a short and painful passage through this world, may yet confer permanent benefits on mankind, and obtain a place in the esteem of posterity, more lasting and more honourable than monuments of stone.

Such are the reflections which will naturally suggest themselves on reviewing the life of BLAISE PASCAL, who was born at Clermont in the Province of Auvergne, now in the Department of the Puy de Domme, on the nineteenth of June 1623. He was descended from one of the best families in that province. One of his ancestors

had received a patent of nobility from Louis XI. about the year 1478, and from that period some of the principal offices in Auvergne were held by persons of the family.

His grandfather was treasurer of France at Riom, and married a daughter of the seneschal of Auvergne, whose name was likewise Pascal. Stephen Pascal, a son of the treasurer, and the father of our author, was born in 1588. He held the office of President in the Court of Aids in Auvergne. He married Antoinette Begon, by whom he had four children: a son, born in 1619, who died in his infancy; Blaise, the author of the following work: and two daughters,Gilberte, born in 1620, who was married to M. Perier; and Jacqueline, born in 1625, who took the veil in the Convent of Port-Royal in the Fields.

[As soon as Blaise Pascal was able to speak, he discovered marks of extraordinary capacity, which he evinced not only by the general pertinency and smartness of his replies, but particularly by the questions which he asked concerning the nature of things, and his reasonings upon them, which were much superior to what is common at his age. His mother having died in 1626, his father, who was an excellent scholar and an able mathematician, and who lived in

greatest learning and science at that time in France, determined to take upon himself the whole charge of his son's education. Blaise, being an only son, became, every day after the death of his mother, more and more endeared to his tutor; and the proofs which he gave of superior understanding, cherished, in no small degree, the warmth of the father's affection.

But as the duties of a public station greatly interfered with this design, and interrupted his attention to the other concerns of his family, Stephen Pascal resigned his office in favor of his brother in 1631, and removed immediately to Paris, where he had fewer acquaintances, and where of course he was less liable to be interrupted, in what had now become his favourite and principal employ, by unnecessary visits, and formal invitations. In Paris, likewise, the most useful books in every branch of learning were always to be readily obtained, and he was determined his son should have every assistance that these could afford him.

His principal maxim, in the conduct of his son's studies, was always to let him feel himself superior to his task: and so rigid was his observance of this rule, that he would not allow him to commence the Latin language, till he was twelve years of age. But in this interval he taught him his own language grammatically,

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and took care frequently to explain to him the general principles of grammar from thence. He likewise encouraged that spirit of inquiry which had manifested itself so early, by constantly directing his attention to some of the more striking phænomena of nature, or the productions of art, and discoursing with him on those subjects which naturally interest the curiosity and ardour of youth.

In what cases such a mode of conducting instruction is to be preferred, it is not necessary here to inquire. It is sufficient to observe, that as it cannot always be adopted, it is most likely it would not in all cases be eligible. The capacity of the mind, like that of the hand, most commonly requires to be opened by exertion, that it may grasp its object with firmness. But in the instance before us, though the restriction could not hasten, it does not appear to have essentially retarded the maturity of this wonderful genius, which was rather stimulated than shackled, by the limits within which it was confined.

[Before young Pascal had attained his twelfth year, two circumstances occurred, which de serve to be recorded, as they discovered the turn, and evinced the superiority of his mind. Having remarked one day at table the sound