THE LIFE OF PASCAL.

BLAISE

LAISE PASCAL was born at Clermont, in Auvergne, 19th June, 1623. Stephen Pascal, his father, a man eminent for his virtues and talents, was First President in the Court of Aids. He married Antoinette Begon, by whom he had four children; a son, born in 1619, who died in his infancy; Blaise, the subject of the present memoir; 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. The family of Pascal had been persons of great consideration in their province. One of his ancestors was ennobled by Louis the Eleventh, about the year 1478; and since that period they had filled many high and important situations in Auvergne, in which they had acquitted themselves with ability and honour. To these hereditary advantages Stephen Pascal added the science of a lawyer, and an extensive knowledge in various departments of learning: he was also an able mathematician and natural philosopher, according to the state of the sciences at that period. The simplicity of his manners, and the gentleness of his nature, endeared him to all his connexions, and proved a source of uninterrupted peace and happiness to his family. He had the calamity of losing the wife whom he tenderly loved, in 1626; and from this period he determined to devote the remainder of his life to the education of his three children. In order to execute this design CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 162.

more conveniently, he resigned his office in the year 1631, and removed with his family to Paris. Blaise Pascal gave several indications of an uncommon capacity at a very early period of life. As soon as he was able to speak intelligibly, his remarks were generally pertinent and entertaining; but the strength of his infant understanding was chiefly displayed by the questions which he proposed concerning the properties of those objects which had principally attracted his notice. The hopes which this early unfolding of his understanding excited were not subsequently falsified; for his reasoning powers increased rapidly with his age, and he invariably exhibited a fund of intelligence much beyond his years. Stephen Pascal had observed with increasing pleasure the extraordinary marks of genius which were manifested in his infant son; and as this was an only son, whose tender years were deprived of the advantages of maternal attention, his solicitude was so great that he determined to undertake the sole care of his education. Being now settled in Paris, and freed from the interruptions inci dent to a public situation, he devoted his time and attention to the instruction of his son, and had the satisfaction of meeting with all that success which a seusible and affectionate parent could hope for in cultivating the talents of so promising a child.

To see a man in the prime of life, resigning a lucrative employment, withdrawing from the intrusions of frivolous visitors, and appropriating his time and talents to 22

the education of his son, is a phenomenon but rarely presented to us. All parents, indeed, have not the abilities of Stephen Pascal; nor will external circumstances allow every master of a family to retire from the duties of public business; but his paternal solicitude may be imitated by all. How much the welfare and happiness of the individual, and the comfort and advantage of that circle of society in which he is destined to move, are connected with the first lines drawn upon the mental tablet, and the primary impulse given to his intellectual powers, are subjects worthy the most serious consideration of all those to whom the education of youth is entrusted.

We are not acquainted with the particular methods that were pursued in the education of young Pascal. His sister, however, has informed us, that her father made it a principal maxim in this employment, so to proportion the task to the child's capacity, that he should always feel himself superior to it. In conformity with this rule, Blaise Pascal did not enter upon the study of the Latin language until he was twelve years of age. The adolescency of young Pascal was not, however, frittered away in idleness, nor childish diversions. His father (as Madame Perier informs us) instructed him, during that period, in such sorts of entertaining literature as suited his years and capacity. He gave him a general view of the nature and signification of languages; taught him by what methods they were reduced to grammatical rules; and then pointed out such exceptions to these general rules as were most worthy of notice. This mode of education (says she) illuminated his understanding, and enabled him at a very early period to comprehend the reason of the rules of grammar. Being furnished with this preliminary knowledge, when he afterwards learnt the rules themselves, he readily discovered the purport of his studies, and there

fore bent the force of his genius to those objects that were most important in their application. This intelligent father likewise taught his two daughters the Latin language, and instructed them in several parts of polite literature, that they might be thus accustomed, at an early period, to the exercise of their powers of reflection; a habit highly conducive to the happiness of life, and not less important to women than to men,

There are some circumstances in this account which may present difficulties to a reflecting reader. Stephen Pascal was cautious not to present objects of too great magnitude to the tender mind of his son: he judged the study of the Latin language to be too perplexing and difficult, until he had nearly attained the age of twelve years: yet how was the interval between childhood and puberty employed? In teaching him abstract science! He conversed with him on the subject of universal grammar, a study at once subtile and metaphysical! And this was executed with such success, that Blaise Pascal knew the reasons of the rules before he was acquainted with the rules themselves! Madame Perier was probably not aware, that while she was indulging the partiality of the sister, she might perhaps lessen the authenticity of the historian.

About this period, Stephen Pascal frequently conversed with his son on such parts of natural philosophy as were best calculated to entertain him and secure his attention. These were subjects which his youthful mind embraced with great delight; nor did he rest satisfied with the bare recital of an experiment, but always required a reason for every phenomenon that was presented to him, which was a demand that could not always be complied with; since the causes of many physical phenomena elude the best directed efforts of the human understanding. Stephen Pascal gave to his son,

however, the best solutions which the philosophy of that day afforded; but as these were often little better than obscure theories, or subtle evasions, they afforded him no satisfaction. Young Pascal was distinguished by an ardent love of truth, and he possessed a clearness of intellect which obscurity could rarely embarrass, or sophistry elude, When the replies that were given him produced neither conviction nor illumination, he commonly applied the powers of his own mind to the subject, and persisted in the investigation until he had acquired a more satisfactory solution of the difficulty. He was of a very inquisitive turn from his childhood; and the following incident will clearly evince the attention he paid to every object that was new or singular. Being one day at dinner, when a person in company accidentally struck an earthen plate with his knife, he remarked that it yielded a sound which vibrated for some time on his ears; but that this immediately ceased upon placing his hand on the plate. Being anxious to know the reason of this phenomenon, he commenced a course of experiments upon sounds, and conducted this investigation with so much success, that he composed a treatise on phonics, at twelve years of age, which was remarkable for its ingenuity and correctness of reasoning.

His genius for geometry began to disclose itself at about twelve years of age; but as the discovery of his propensity to this sublime and difficult study was attended with some singular circumstances, a particular account of them may prove acceptable and interesting.

Stephen Pascal was an able mathematician, and he maintained an intimacy with some of the most ingenious men who were versed in that science. He never permitted his son, however, to hear their conversations, nor to peruse any books that treated on mathematical subjects. His father purposed to

make him conversant with classical learning, before he initiated him in the study of a science so suited to the construction of his son's mind, and which might probably absorb the whole of his attention. Blaise Pascal solicited his father frequently to teach him the mathematics-a request which was as often peremptorily refused. This refusal, however, was always accompanied with a promise, that as soon as he was master of the Latin and Greek languages, his wishes should be com plied with.

Although young Pascal was very desirous of learning the mathematics, yet it does not appear that he had a distinct conception of the objects with which they are con versant. Being one day very inportunate with his father to inform him what the mathematics were, and of what they treated, his father only gave him this general answer : "Geometry is a science which teaches the method of making exact figures, and of finding out the proportions they bear to each other." With this concise reply, he forbade him to speak, or to think any more upon the subject. But the penetrating and inquisitive mind of this youth, impatient of the constraint imposed upon him, pursued with ardour the dawn of light which this vague and general definition had communicated to him. His thoughts were always directed towards this object, even at the hours allotted to recreation; and being accustomed to amuse himself alone in a large room, he began to draw figures with a piece of charcoal upon the floor; endeavouring, for example, to form a perfect circle, a triangle with equal sides and equal angles, &c. When he had discovered the method of doing this, he endeavoured to find out the proportions which figures bear to each other. His reasonings were conducted by definitions and axioms which he had himself invented; and by slow degrees he at length found out, that the three

angles of every triangle could be measured by a semicircle; or, in other words, were equal to two right angles, which forms the 32d proposition of the First Book of Euclid. The vigilance of his father, however, had been so great, that when young Pascal had attained to this knowledge, he was actually unacquainted with the common' names of the figures he had drawn, calling a circle a round, a line a bar, and the other figures by appellations as little technical. One day while he was thus employed, Stephen Pascal came into the room, unobserved by his son, who was wholly intent upon the subject of his investigation, and he stood for a considerable time with out being discovered. It is difficult to conceive, which of them was the more surprised; the son to see his father, who had strictly forbidden him to apply himself to this study, or the father to see his son surrounded by so many geometrical figures. But the astonishment of Stephen Pascal was very considerably increased, when, on inquiring what he was employed upon, the child replied, that he was endeavouring to solve a particular problem, which happened to be the 32d proposition of the First Book of Euclid. The father then asked him, how he came to think of that? "Because," said he, "I found out such and such things before." The question being repeated, he went gradually backwards, through his investigation, using the terms bars and rounds, until he came to the definitions and axioms he had formed.

The strength and sublimity of genius discovered by Blaise Pascal upon this occasion affected his father greatly. He very prudently concealed his surprise, and went immediately to the house of M. Le Pailleur, who was his intimate friend: but, when he entered the room, he stood motionless for some minutes, and then burst into tears. M. Le Pailleur was alarmed by his

behaviour, and earnestly requested to be informed of the cause of his distress "My tears do not indicate affliction," said M. Pascal: "they are the effects of joy. You know, sir," continued he, "the great care which I took to conceal all knowledge of geometry from my son, lest it should interfere with his other studies; yet, notwithstanding all my care, see what he has done!" He then explained to him how he had found his son employed; adding, "He has performed that which, in one sense, would justify me in saying, he has invented the mathematics." M. Le Pailleur, on hearing how young Pascal had been employed, was not less astonished than his father: he immediately advised him no longer to restrain a mind endowed with such extraordinary powers, but to provide him with proper books upon the subject.

Stephen Pascal, in compliance with the advice of his friend, gave Euclid's Elements to his son, to read at his hours of recreation. He comprehended them readily, without any assistance, and his progress in this science was so rapid that he was quickly qualified to become a member of a society which was composed of the best philosophers and mathematicians in Paris. It was customary at this meeting for the members to present papers of their own composition, and also to examine such as were sent by their correspondents in foreign countries. Blaise Pascal conducted himself upon these occasions with uncommon ability:

Stephen Pascal, who, as we have observed, was both an able mathematician and natural philosopher, was connected intimately with Father Mersenne, Roberval, Carcavi, Le Pailleur, &c. These learned men met from time to time at each other's honses, to discuss various subjects of natural science, From this little society the Royal Academy of Sciences originated, which was established by royal authority in 1666.

he displayed great acuteness in his remarks, and often pointed out errors in dissertations that had escaped the observation of the other members; which induced the gentlemen to pay great deference to his opinion in these sciences. He still continued to study the Latin language, according to the directions of his father, and only applied himself to geometry at his leisure hours: but as this science presented him with that exhibition of truth which he had pursued so ardently, his progress was uncommonly rapid and successful; so that, at the age of sixteen years, he composed a treatise on conic sections, which was considered as displaying an effort of mind so extraordinary, that impartial judges declared nothing superior to it in strength of reasoning had appeared since the days of Archimedes. But if the work itself was so admirable, the indifference to fame that Blaise Pascal discovered was not less worthy of attention. He was contented with the approbation of his friends, and suffered it to sink into oblivion.

In the year 1641, Stephen Pas cal was appointed Intendant of Rouen; and he fulfilled the duties of this important office with a capacity and disinterestedness which procured him the approbation, both of the province and of the court. In the same year, he married his daughter, Gilberte, to M. Perier, who at that time held a public appointment in Normandy.

A vigorous and uninterrupted application to geometrical pursuits, at so early a period of life, had a very unfavourable effect upon the health of young Pascal. It appears, however, that this circumstance caused no interruption to his studies; since, at nineteen years of age, he contrived that admirable arithmetical machine which has been regarded as one of the most extraordinary inventions that was ever made public. By this instrument numerical calculations of every

kind can be performed with the greatest certainty, even by those who are unacquainted with any one rule in arithmetic. It was two years before he brought it to a state of perfection, which is not to be ascribed, solely, to the difficulty he found in arranging and combin ing the several parts of the machinery, but to the unskilfulness of the workmen he was obliged to employ. Many attempts were afterwards made, to render this invention more commodious for common uses; and the celebrated Leibnitz, who gave much of his time to this investigation*, at length succeeded in perfecting a machine, more simple and more easy of application than that of Pascal. It is to be regretted, however, that all these inventions have been found, not only too bulky and too expensive, but likewise so easily put out of order, that they can never be adapted to general utility.

Soon after this period, natural philosophy presented to his curious, active, and inquiring mind, one of the most extraordinary phænomena in nature; and we are principally indebted to him for a correct explanation of it. He was about the age of twenty three years, when he became acquainted with the Torricellian experiment, by which it was proved, that the cause of the ascent of water in fountains and pumps, and of mercury in the barometer, was the weight of the superincumbent atmosphere, and not nature's abhorrence of a vacuum. M. Pascal regarded this as an admirable theory; but not thinking that it had been sufficiently verified, he instituted a series of experiments, in order to establish the truth of this

* This was probably about the year 1672, when he accompanied the son of his patron, the Baron de Boinebourg, to Paris. He communicated his views upon this subject to the celebrated Colbert, and to the Royal Academy of Sciences; but it is not certain that the mechanical part of this invention was ever completed.