HIS ENTRANCE INTO THE FRENCH ACADEMY. 123 



genius are liable to cross humours ; but I must at the 

 same time add that the example is not dangerous, dumb 

 ness not being an efficacious method of making one s self 

 valued, or of distinguishing ourselves to advantage. 



Bailly was nominated member of the French Academy 

 in the place of M. de Tressan, in November, 1783. The 

 same day, M. de Choiseul Gouffier succeeded to D Alem- 

 bert. Thanks to the coincidence of the two nominations, 

 Bailly escaped the sarcasms which the expectant acade 

 micians never fail to pour out, with or without reason, 

 against those who have obtained a double crown. This 

 time they vented their spleen exclusively on the great 

 man, thus enabling the astronomer to take possession of 

 his new dignity without raising the usual storm. Let us 

 carefully collect, Gentlemen, from the early years of our 

 academician s life, all that may appear an anticipated 

 compensation for the cruel trials that we shall have to 

 relate in the sequel. 



The admission of the eloquent author of the History 

 of Astronomy into the Academy, was more difficult than 

 could be supposed by those who have remarked to what 

 slight works certain early and recent writers have owed 

 the same favour. Bailly failed three times. Fontenelle 

 had before him unsuccessfully presented himself once 

 oftener ; but Fontenelle underwent these successive 

 checks without ill-humour, and without being discour 

 aged. Bailly, on the contrary, with or without reason, 

 seeing in these unfavourable results of the elections the 

 immediate effect of D Alembert s enmity, showed himself 

 much more hurt at it, perhaps, than was suitable for a 

 philosopher. In these somewhat envenomed contests, 

 Buffon always gave Bailly a cordial and able support. 



Bailly pronounced his reception-discourse in February, 



