Henri BECQUEREL – Academic praise before death. 1908.

Henri BECQUEREL (1852.1908)

A set of three autograph letters signed to Daniel Berthelot.

Six octavo pages in total, on paper addressed to him.

[Paris]. July 3, 7 and 11, 1908

"Who could ever have imagined that I would be called upon to succeed your illustrious father, just as I succeeded him in the physics department?"

An important set of three letters from Becquerel to the son of the illustrious scientist Marcellin Berthelot, who died in March 1907, whom he wishes to praise at a meeting of the Academy of Sciences. Becquerel inquires about the written work of his predecessor and the personal recollections shared by Daniel Berthelot.

Becquerel would not deliver this eulogy. He died suddenly, a month after this correspondence, in Le Croisic, on August 25, 1908.

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Letter I – July 3, 1908.

“My dear friend, I thank you for your kind congratulations, which I deeply appreciate. Who could ever have imagined that I would be called upon to succeed your illustrious father, as I succeeded him in the physics section? I am currently considering the possibility of delivering his eulogy at our public meeting this winter , if I have sufficient time to complete such an important undertaking. I would therefore be very grateful if I could discuss this with you and ask how I might obtain certain essential documents. If it would be convenient for you, I could speak with you on Monday after the academy meeting; otherwise, I would ask what day and time would be best for us to meet, either at my home or at the laboratory. Yours very affectionately, Henri Becquerel.”

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Letter II – July 7, 1908.

"My dear friend, the works of your revered father that I have in my library are as follows:

Chemistry based on synthesis.

Chemical synthesis.

Thermochemistry.

Practical treatise on gas analysis.

Can you lend Origins of Alchemy and The Chemical Revolution for the holidays , and ask Mr. Quarschi [?] to send you a copy of his commemorative reading.

As I am leaving on July 14th and I don't think it will be possible for you to receive Mr. Quarchi's book before then, I would be very grateful if you could send it directly to me in Le Croisic , Loire-Atlantique, where I will be from July 14th onwards. Thank you very much in advance. I am especially counting on you to write a short note, sharing any memories and more personal information you deem useful to me. Your collaboration will be invaluable to the work I am undertaking, which frightens me somewhat. With warmest regards, Henri Becquerel

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Letter III – July 11, 1908.

“Thank you, my dear friend, for the precious documents you have kindly entrusted to me to guide me in the eulogy I am undertaking for your illustrious and revered father. They complement those I have collected at the library of the Institute, where I borrowed, along with The Chemical Revolution, Science and Morality, Science and Education, Archaeology, and The Mystery of Science.”

As you mentioned, the book I need most now is the correspondence with Renan. Will I find it at the Institute? If not, could you lend it to me? Finally, I still need to obtain the preface to his memoirs on explosives. I read his little book from 1872 on the power of gunpowder at the Institute.

Thank you for sending Mr. Quarschi's report, but it would be too much trouble for you to translate the entire scientific section. I have a small Italian dictionary that might allow me to manage without you undertaking this major task. I was supposed to return on the 14th, but my departure is delayed by a day or two. Please accept my warmest regards. Henri Becquerel