158 BAILLY. 



now perhaps allow of some modification being made in 

 the ideas of the illustrious commissioners. Their views 

 on warming-rooms, on their size, on ventilation, on gen- 

 eral health, might, for example, receive some real ameli- 

 orations ; but nothing could add to the sentiments of 

 respect inspired by Bailly's work. What clearness of 

 exposition ! What neatness, what simplicity of style ! 

 Never did a writer put himself more completely out of 

 view ; never did a man more sincerely seek to make the 

 sacred cause of humanity triumph. The interest that 

 Bailly takes in the poor is deep, but always exempt 

 from parade ; his words are moderate, full of gentleness, 

 even where hasty feelings of anger and indignation would 

 have been legitimate. Of anger and of indignation ! Yes, 

 Gentlemen ; listen, and decide ! 



I have cited the names of the commissioners. At no 

 time, and in no country, could more virtue and learning 

 have been united. These select men, regulating them- 

 selves in this respect according to the most common logic, 

 felt that the task of pronouncing on a reform of the Hotel 

 Dieu imposed on them the necessity of examining that 

 establishment. " We have asked," said their interpreter, 

 " we have asked the Board of Administration to permit 

 us to see the hospital in detail, and accompanied by some 



one who could guide and instruct us we required 



to know several particulars ; we asked for them, but we 

 obtained nothing." 



We have obtained nothing ! These are the sad, the 

 incredible words, that men so worthy of respect are ob- 

 liged to insert in the first line of their report ! 



What then was the authority that allowed itself to be 

 so deficient in the most usual respect towards commis- 

 sioners invested with the confidence of the Kino-, the 



