This famous passage is the one where Galois proves the crucial lemma stating that any rational function of the roots can be expressed as a rational function of the Galois resolvent. Poisson (What about him?) had called Galois' prove insufficient. Galois, rather than elucidate his proof, laconically replied, "That remains to be seen. My opinion is in paragraph 37" (freely translated). It is easy to understand Poisson's position. Galois' proof can be regarded as as, at best, a sketch, and therefore is certainly "insufficient" if one is in any doubt as to the correctness of his theory and the accuracy of his reasoning. In his report to the Academy, Poisson said of Galois' memoir as a whole that << We have made every effort to understand Mr. Galois' proof. His argument are not clear enough, nor developed enough, for us to be able to judge their correctness... >>.
He hoped that Galois would improve and amplify his exposition of his work, but concluded "In the state in which it is now submitted to the Academy, we cannot recommend that you (Mr. Lacroix) give it your approval". At the time, confronted with an incomprehensible manuscript and a 19-year-old author who could well be asked to improve on it (and who was in trouble with the police to boot), one might well decide to recommend to one's colleagues that they not endorse it.
