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Chapter 160: The Father of Chemistry
🕑 Added 2024-12-26 22:36:19 +0000 UTCChapter 160: The Father of Chemistry
Joseph was not just vaguely familiar with the name Lavoisier; it was a name that resonated deeply with him.
Lavoisier was the greatest chemist of the 18th century, often called the "Father of Modern Chemistry" and sometimes referred to as the "Newton of Chemistry."
He was a foundational figure in modern chemistry, proving the law of conservation of mass, defining the concept of an "element," and creating the first modern chemical list, the precursor to the periodic table. He also developed the theory of oxidation, which effectively ended the outdated "phlogiston theory."
In short, Lavoisier was a giant among giants in the field of chemistry.
Joseph immediately felt a sense of relief. No wonder the Royal Powder Bureau couldn't function properly without their director—when someone as brilliant as Lavoisier is in charge, it's easy to see how the whole department would rely heavily on him. It was likely that all of the bureau's previous research had been centered around Lavoisier. Now that he was on leave, the other staff had no clear direction.
The assistant to the director of the Powder Bureau looked nervously at the Prince.
"Your Highness, shall I go and inform the director to come and see you?"
"No need," Joseph said, standing up.
Out of respect for a scholar who had made a lasting mark on history and for the prominent figure Lavoisier was, Joseph felt it appropriate to visit him personally.
He turned to the assistant and said, "Please give me Mr. Lavoisier's address."
Less than two miles from Versailles Palace, Joseph could see a group of people not far off, waiting to transfer onto a rail carriage—proof that the British track-laying technicians were working quickly. The wooden tracks now extended to the western outskirts of Paris, and in no more than a month, people would be able to travel directly from Versailles Palace to Paris by rail.
As the nobles queued to change carriages, they politely made way for the Prince. Joseph didn't hesitate to take a seat in a four-person rail carriage.
The carriage sped along the wooden tracks, moving much faster than an ordinary carriage. The reduced resistance of the wooden rails made it clear that the horses pulling the carriage were barely exerting themselves, almost as if they were running with no load at all.
In the past, horses would have had to slow down and rest once or twice on the journey from Versailles to Paris. But this time, the horses didn't need to rest at all; in fact, they even sped up joyfully on downhill stretches, forcing the coachman to continually call out commands to restrain them.
Watching the trees whip by the windows, Joseph estimated that the carriage's speed was close to that of a modern electric scooter.
He was already planning in his mind to first build a circular wooden track around Paris, followed by a north-south track through the city. An east-west wooden track had already been completed before Fashion Week.
Once these were done, Paris would have the most efficient transportation system in Europe, significantly boosting the city's overall efficiency.
As for the construction costs, with the current wooden track as a successful example, it would be entirely possible to raise funds from the private sector, offering the right to operate the railways as compensation—similar to how highways were funded in modern times.
Once Paris had gained fame for its rail system, they could consider building a track from Paris to industrial areas like Lyon to facilitate the sale of goods.
Even though these wooden tracks were only suitable for horse-drawn carriages at present, they would not go to waste in the future. The foundations and sleepers could be reused for iron rails.
Once France increased its steel production and steam trains were invented, they could simply remove the wooden rails and replace them with iron ones. In no time, the tracks would be ready for trains.
After about an hour, the carriage arrived on the west side of the Saint-Germain district in Paris. Joseph walked a short distance after getting off, and soon spotted a gray-white villa in the distance.
Emond looked around at the street signs and said, "Your Highness, this should be the place."
Joseph gazed at the beautifully designed villa, with its three or four hundred square meters of gardens and children's play areas inside the walls. He suddenly remembered another aspect of Lavoisier's life—he was a tax collector.
If he remembered correctly, Lavoisier had contracted to collect 500,000 livres in salt and tobacco taxes, bringing in an annual income of 80,000 to 100,000 livres—a very wealthy household indeed.
However, it was this role as a tax collector that ultimately led to Lavoisier's death during the French Revolution. Lagrange, deeply grieved by his death, famously remarked, "It took them only an instant to cut off that head, but France may not produce another like it in a century."
Joseph sighed inwardly. As long as he had any influence, he would never allow a priceless scientific genius like Lavoisier to come to harm.
Lavoisier was completely unprepared for the sudden visit from the Prince and, both thrilled and nervous, quickly gathered his entire household and servants to welcome him.
"Oh, I am so honored, Your Highness!" Lavoisier greeted Joseph with a deep bow at the door. "I never expected you to grace my humble home."
Joseph returned the greeting with a smile and, taking Lavoisier by the arm, led him inside while asking with concern, "I heard that you've taken an extended leave. Is everything alright with your health?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness," Lavoisier replied with a smile, shaking his head. "I'm fine, as you can see—fit as a fiddle!
"I just needed to focus all my energy on finishing my current paper, so I had to temporarily set aside my duties at the Royal Powder Bureau."
Joseph, intrigued, asked, "Oh? What are you writing about?"
"I'm calling it Elementary Treatise on Chemistry," Lavoisier said, his expression filled with pride. "It's a summary of all my thoughts on chemistry. I believe it will bring about a new era in the field of chemistry!"
Joseph was struck by the significance of this. No wonder Lavoisier had taken such a long leave; this was the foundational work of modern chemistry.
The Elementary Treatise on Chemistry would later be recognized as one of the three greatest works of natural science in the world, alongside Newton's Principia Mathematica and Darwin's On the Origin of Species.
Joseph was invited to sit on a sofa in the living room—a sofa the hostess had meticulously arranged three times—while Lavoisier stood by. Joseph gestured for him to sit as well.
After a moment's hesitation, Joseph got to the point of his visit. "Mr. Lavoisier, although I fear it may disrupt your research, there is something only you can help with right now."
"Oh, please don't hesitate to ask, Your Highness. It would be my honor to assist you in any way."
"I need the Powder Bureau to quickly produce mercury fulminate, but they've informed me that without your supervision, it could take up to four months to get a finished product."
Lavoisier nodded slightly. "You're referring to the explosive substance that detonates easily upon impact, correct? I've read about it in British papers. It's likely made from mercury and nitric acid. I suspect it involves crystallization to obtain a purer final product, and it may even require a catalyst."
Joseph silently applauded. No wonder Lavoisier was a giant in his field—just from reading a few papers, he had deduced the production process with almost pinpoint accuracy.
Lavoisier continued, "Such delicate experimental work may be beyond Clovis and the others. Your Highness, I can help you with the production of mercury fulminate, but I'll only be able to spend two days a week at the Powder Bureau."
Joseph thought to himself that two days would have to suffice; he couldn't afford to delay the publication of Elementary Treatise on Chemistry.
He asked, "How long do you think it will take to complete the experiment?"
"A month, I'd say," Lavoisier replied, casting a gentle look at his wife, "if Marianne is willing to assist me."
End of Chapter
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