1713

25 January 1783

Amiens

Paris

2/2 18th century

A Benedictine priest who was also an able optical instrument-maker, at Amiens Noel came to the attention of the Duc de Chaulnes (1) who introduced him into the court circle. In 1750 he presented a microscope 'which probably Noël had not made (2), to Louis XV and at about the same time succeeded in obtaining a transfer to the Abbey of St Germain des Près, Paris, where he set up an optical manufactory. In 1751, Alexandre de la Rochefoucauld, 5th duc de la Roche Guyon, purchased a microscope from him for 600 livres (3). In 1756 he became keeper of the Royal Physics cabinet in the château de La Muette, Passy which Louis XV decided to create at Noel's suggestion although it did not attain official status until 1760 (4). In collaboration with Navarre he built a 24ft focus Cassegrain-type telescope which was completed in 1772 (5). Few people however, and no astronomers, were permitted to test it. The transits of Venus in 1761 and 1769 were observed with Noel at La Muette by Fouchy, Passemant and Bailly. The number of his workmen fluctuated according to the state of the royal finances. In 1763 he had only two, plus an apprentice, in 1768 he had twelve. Among them were Dupra (qv), Banide (qv) and Maingaut (qv).
Noel's relations with the administrators of the Maison du Roi were never particularly good thanks to the disorder of his accounting and the conduct of the establishment, and his failure to keep within his budget. Montucla, Noel considered in particular to be his special enemy. In 1774, Noel was forced into retirement, his post being divided between Jean Baptiste Leroy for the instruments of physics, and Alexis Marie Rochon for the optical part although he did not hand overe his keys until thre years later (6).

1. According to Lalande 1803, 835, who seems to have not much appreciated Noël, he ' imposed on the Duke by his loquacity.
2. Ibid
3. Accounts of Sebastien de la Place, trésorier du duc. Chartier de la Roche Guyon pour 1751. AD du Val d'OIse, 10J645.
4. Fauque (Rochon) 13
5. It may have been of Gregorian construction. Daumas 1953, 355 & his caption to fig 90 contradict each other, See also Bernard lot 98 which consisted of six engravings of the telescope by Dheulland together with an announcement of Noel's death which supplies its exact date.
6. Daumas 356. Fauque 14.

'Mémoire sur un nouveau régulateur' in Antide Janvier, 'Manuel chronométrique, ou précis de ce qui concerne le tempsd, ses divisions, ses mesures, leurs usages, etc, Paris 1821, 259-611 (1).

Suite de XXI planches gravées sous la direction de Dom Noel. Garde du Cabinet Royal de Physique. representant les Elevations & Couppes der plusieurs telescopes & Microscopes que se voyent au dit Cabinet à Passy pres la Meute n.d. [c. 1772].

1. Sealed package deposited in the Académie Royale des Sciences 19 August 1779. According to Janvier (p. 258), he found the manuscript among the papers of Pierre Leroy.

Abbey of St Germain-des-Près, Paris
La Muette.

303

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