FIRST INTERVIEW WITH FRANKLIN. 121 



to him ; yet this does not prevent his discussing closely 

 the proofs, the arguments of the ingenious astronomer. 

 We could also now enter into a serious discussion. The 

 mysterious veil that in Bailly's time covered the East, is 

 in great part raised. We now know the Astronomy of 

 the Chinese and the Hindoos in all its detail. We know 

 up to what point the latter had carried their mathematical 

 knowledge. The theory of central heat has in a few 

 years made an unhoped-for progress ; in short, compara- 

 tive philology, prodigiously extended by the invaluable 

 labours of Sacy, Remusat, Quatremere, Burnouf, and 

 Stanislaus Julien, have thrown strong lights on some 

 historical and geographical questions, where there reigned 

 before a profound darkness. Armed with all these new 

 means of investigation, it might easily be established that 

 the systems relative to an ancient unknown people, first 

 creator of all the sciences, and relative to the Atlantidas, 

 rest on foundations devoid of solidity. Yet, if Bailly still 

 lived, we should be only just in saying to him, as Voltaire 

 did, merely changing the tense of a verb, " Your two 

 books were, Sir, treasures of the most profound erudition 

 and the most ingenious conjectures, adorned with an elo- 

 quence of style, which is always suitable to the subject." 



FIRST INTERVIEW OF BAILLY WITH FRANKLIN. HIS 



ENTRANCE INTO THE FRENCH ACADEMY IN 1783. 



HIS RECEPTION. DISCOURSE. HIS RUPTURE 



WITH BUFFON. 



Bailly became the particular and intimate friend of 

 Franklin at the end of 1777. The personal acquaint- 

 ance of these two distinguished men began in the strang- 

 est manner. 



One of the most illustrious members of the Institute, 



