In 1882, Perrier was sent to Florida to observe the transit of Venus.  Thanks to his activity and ability, his observations were a complete success.  Thenceforward, his celebrity continued to increase until his last triangulating operations in Algeria.

[Illustration:  General Francois Perrier.]

“Do you not remember,” said Mr. Janssen recently to the Academy of Sciences, “the feeling of satisfaction that the whole country felt when it learned the entire success of that grand geodesic operation that united Spain with our Algeria over the Mediterranean, and passed through France a meridian arc extending from the north of England as far as to the Sahara, that is to say, an arc exceeding in length the greatest arcs that had been measured up till then?  This splendid result attracted all minds, and rendered Perrier’s name popular.  But how much had this success been prepared by long and conscientious labors that cede in nothing to it in importance?  The triangulation and leveling of Corsica, and the connecting of it with the Continent; the splendid operations executed in Algeria, which required fifteen years of labor, and led to the measurement of an arc of parallels of nearly 10 deg. in extent, that offers a very peculiar interest for the study of the earth’s figure; and, again, that revision of the meridian of France in which it became necessary to utilize all the progress that had been made since the beginning of the century in the construction of instruments and in methods of observation and calculation.  And it must be added that General Perrier had formed a school of scientists and devoted officers who were his co-laborers, and upon whom we must now rely to continue his work.”

The merits of General Perrier gained him the honor of being placed at the head of a service of high importance, the geographical service of the army, to the organization of which he devoted his entire energy.

In General Perrier, the man ceded in nothing to the worker and scientist.  Good, affable, generous, he joined liveliness and good humor with courage and energy.  Incessantly occupied with the prosperity and grandeur of his country, he knew that true patriotism does not consist in putting forth vain declamations, but in endeavoring to accomplish useful and fruitful work.—­La Nature.

General Perrier died at Montpellier on the 20th of February, 1888.

* * * * *

THE PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE ROYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.[1]

   [Footnote 1:  Delivered by the Rev. Dr. Dallinger, F.R.S., at the
   annual meeting of the Royal Microscopical Society, Feb. 8,
   1888.—­Nature.]

Retrospect may involve regret, but can scarcely involve anxiety.  To one who fully appreciates the actual, and above all the potential, importance of this society in its bearing upon the general progress of scientific research in every field of physical inquiry, the responsibilities of president will not be lightly, while they may certainly be proudly, undertaken.