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38 ANNUAL REGISTER

found philosopher, was the guide, by whose assistance her first steps were made in this difficult career. But, if she had obligations to him, they are amply repaid by the light which she threw upon his writings. His philosophy, often unintelligible, she explained in a work intitled 'Institutions of Physic.'
   If this work merits the highest praise for its perspicuity and method, the discourse which precedes it must be considered as a masterpiece of eloquence and reasoning. It is to her son that she addresses it ; she inculcates, as a duty indispensible, the obligation under which parents lie to watch over the education of their children ; she invites him to exercise the dawn of his reason, and to preserve himself from that ignorance which is so common in high life. 'It is necessary, said she, that you accustom yourself, to early habits of thinking, and of finding a satisfaction within your own mind ; you will thence experience, during the course of your life, the resources and consolation which are furnished by study ; and will know, that it leads to happiness and to pleasure.'
   She advised him to apply himself chiefly to natural philosophy or physics ; she sketched out to him the plan he was to follow, in the lessons she gave him in it ; and enumerated the obligations for which this science is indebted to the philosophers who have appeared since Descartes.  In calling his attention to the system of that great man, and to that of Newton, she fails not to remark the fierce disputes to which they gave rise ; and exhorts him not to give way to the spirit of party, which is unfriendly to the discovery of truth. 'It is, continues she, highly improper and absurd, that a national affair should have been made of the opinions of Newton and Descartes. When the question is about a book of philosophy, it is, surely, of little consequence to its merit, whether the author be an Englishman, a German, or a Frenchman.' It happens too frequently, that men, in the judgments they pronounce of books, direct themselves by idle prepossessions, or the characters of their authors.
The Marchioness also recommends it to her son not to carry to idolatry the respect which is due to great men. From these precepts she proceeds to speak of Leibnitz, and of the ideas of this philosopher on the subject of metaphysics. But, perhaps, in the mention she has made of him, she somewhat forgets the rule she had been inculcating, and expresses too high an admiration. This slight fault is the only one that she has committed in this discourse, which comprehends much useful instruction, and a beautiful analysis of the work, to which it is an introduction.
The sciences, which lead out of the road to truth, are not made for those who are impatient to arrive at it. The Marchioness du Chatêlet fought for it with too much ardour, and with too many advantages, to lose much time in the chimeras of metaphysicks. When she had become acquainted with Newton, she abandoned Leibnitz. The luminous doctrines of the former had more charms for her, than the hesitation and uncertainty of the latter. After having by the most persevering study rendered his writings familiar to her, she was seized with the desire of procuring 

For the YEAR 1772.  39

procuring to herself the highest reputation; and she engaged in an undertaking, the most important, surely, that was ever attempted by a woman. Newton, by publishing his works in the Latin language, had written only for a few men of learning: the Marchioness, by translating into French his Principia, and by adorning it with her excellent commentaries, wrote for all the world. By this arduous task, she advanced her own glory, assisted the cause of literature, and spread perhaps the celebrity of Newton.
In her translation, she sometimes improves upon the method of her author, and sometimes rectifies his mistakes. But her commentary is superior to her translation. It consists of two parts, and is preceded by a rapid historical sketch of astronomy from the time of Pythagoras to her own age. The first part comprehends an exposition and illustration of the principal phaenomena in the system of the world. The second is employed in an analytical solution of the principal problems which have relation to this system. It is also in this part of her work that the Marchioness has explained several famous theorems, with an evidence that nearly amounts to demonstration. When we attend to the ungainly appearance of the subjects she has treated, and to the vivacity, the grace, and the delicacy so natural to her sex, our astonishment is mixed with admiration.
It is not to be denied, that she was indebted to the instructions of M. Clairaut. She had scarcely finished a chapter of her commentary, when she made haste to submit it to his judgment. But she was always alone when she made her calculations, and this celebrated geometrician had only occasion to make a few slight corrections in them. Those persons, therefore, must be considered as ill-informed, as well as envious, who insist that she was not the author of the pieces which bear her name.
But those, who only knew the Marchioness by her writings, could possess but an imperfect knowledge of her. Her manner were no less estimable than her talents. Calculated by her figure, her rank, and her understanding, to be distinguished above those with whom she lived, she yet perceived not the advantages which she had united. She was fond of glory, but without ostentation. In every action of her life she discovered always the most engaging simplicity. 'Never, says Voltaire, in his historical Eulogium of her, did there exist a woman more learned, or that was less fond to display erudition. She never talked on the sciences, but with those from whom she thought she might receive information; in no instance did she do so from vanity. She assembled not a circle of admirers round her person to spread the fame of her genius. Born with singular powers for eloquence, she never exerted them but on topics worthy of her. Those delicate turns of expression, and that fastidious nicety, which apply to some celebrated ladies, entered not into the immensity of her talents. Force, precision, and propriety, are the characteristics of her eloquence. She bears a nearer resemblance to Pascal and Nicole, than to Madame de Savigne.'

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