216 . ' BAILLY. 
may be allowed the expression, relative diffidence comes 
in. This is often a delusion; it deceives no one, yet 
occasions a thousand difficulties. Bailly often confounded 
them. We may regret, I think, that in many instances, 
the learned academician disdained to throw in the face 
of his vain fellow-labourers these words ofan ancient 
philosopher: “When I examine myself, I find I am but 
a pigmy; when I compare myself, I think I am a giant.” 
If I were to cover with a veil that which appeared to 
me susceptible of criticism in the character of Bailly, I 
should voluntarily weaken the praises that I have be- 
stowed on several acts of his administration. I will not 
commit this fault, no more than I have done already in 
alluding to the communications of the mayor with the 
presuming Eschevins. 
IT will therefore acknowledge that on several occasions, 
_ Bailly, in my opinion, showed himself influenced by a 
petty susceptibility, if not about his personal preroga- 
tives, yet about those of his station. 
I think also that Bailly might be accused of an occa- 
sional want of foresight. 
Imaginative and sensitive, the philosopher allowed his 
thoughts to centre too exclusively on the difficulties of 
the moment. He persuaded himself, from an excess of 
good-will, that no new storm would follow the one that 
he had just overcome. After every success, whether 
great or small, against the intrigues of the court, or 
prejudices, or anarchy, whether President of the National 
Assembly or Mayor of Paris, our colleague thought the 
country saved. Then his joy overflowed; he would 
have wished to spread it over all the world. It was thus 
that on the day of the definite reunion of the nobility 
with the other two orders, the 27th of June, 1789, Bailly 
