His father, who had never ceased to cultivate Latin and French literature, as well as several branches of science, raised him himself in the country near the city where he was born.
Kanyang ama, na hindi ceased sa linangin Latin at Pranses panitikan, pati na rin ang ilang sangay ng siyensiya, itataas niya ang kanyang sarili sa mga bansa na malapit sa lungsod kung saan siya ay ipinanganak.