GASTON DARBOUX (1842-1917) Autograph letter signed to Monsieur Lecestre, archivist. Paris 24 August 1909.

2 p. in-8, on paper headed ‘Université de Paris / Faculté des Sciences / Géométrie supérieure’ Envelope. Important letter. Good condition. On the advice of Mr de la Roncière, he consulted him, as a specialist in Napoleon’s correspondence, on a letter from the latter to Mr de Champagny dated Bologna on 21 July 1804, which reads as follows: ‘...I have just read the proposal by citizen Fulton which you sent me much too late in that it could change the face of the world. You will immediately entrust it to a committee of members chosen by you from the different classes of the Institute. It is there that learned Europe must seek judges to resolve the question’. This letter was so at odds with what we know of the relationship between Napoleon and Robert Fulton that he wanted to be sure of its authenticity. He was suspicious of some of the words: ‘Europe savante’ (learned Europe), ‘résoudre la question’ (resolve the question)... - His expertise would be very useful to him as he was to represent France at the Fulton Centenary in New York. Gaston Darboux. French mathematician.