Henri Becquerel reorganizes the Natural History Museum. 1892.

Henri BECQUEREL (1852.1908)

Autographed letter signed to Daniel Berthelot.

Two octavo pages on mourning paper.

No place. April 27, 1892.

"I hope you will be appointed upon your return to Paris; we are to vote for you tomorrow at the Museum."

A beautiful letter from Henri Becquerel expressing concern about the health of his colleague Marcellin Berthelot and informing his son, Daniel Berthelot, of his imminent appointment to the National Museum of Natural History.

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"Dear Sir, I am sorry to hear that your father has fallen ill and is suffering terribly . Being away from home only adds to the already difficult situation, and I fully understand that in these circumstances you cannot abandon your father or your mother."

I hope you will be appointed when you return to Paris; we are to vote for you tomorrow at the Museum , and the ministerial appointment will not be long in coming, I have every reason to believe it.

Please convey my most respectful compliments to your father and tell him how deeply I sympathize with his sad situation. Please also extend my respectful regards to your mother and accept my warmest regards. Henri Becquerel. I gave the first lesson of the course at the Museum this morning

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Daniel Berthelot (1865-1927) was appointed, on May 1, 1892, assistant to the chair of applied physics at the National Museum of Natural History.

He was elected a member of the French Physical Society in 1895 and of the French Chemical Society; a member of the National Academy of Medicine in 1914 and of the Academy of Sciences (General Physics Section) in 1919.