MARAT INIMICAL TO THE MAYOR. 187 



the amount of the prize out of his own pocket, under an 

 assumed name. 



The prize so longed for, and so singularly proposed, 

 was not obtained, however, by the Duke de Yilleroy's 

 candidate, but by the astronomer Flaugergues. From 

 that instant, the pseudo-physicist became the bitter enemy 

 of the scientific bodies of the whole universe, of whoever 

 bore the title of an academician. Putting aside all shame, 

 he no longer made himself known in the field of natural 

 philosophy, merely by imaginary experiments, or by jug- 

 gleries ; he had recourse to contemptible practices, with 

 the object of throwing doubt upon the clearest and best 

 proved principles of science ; for example, the metallic 

 needles discovered by the academician Charles, and which 

 the foreign doctor had adroitly concealed in a cake of 

 resin, in order to contradict the common opinion of the 

 electric non-conductibility of that substance. 



These details were necessary. I could not avoid char- 

 acterizing the journalist who by his daily calumnies con- 

 tributed most to undermine the popularity of Bailly. It 

 was requisite besides, once for all, to strip him in this 

 circle of the epithet of philosopher, with which men of 

 the world, and even some historians, inconsiderately 

 gratified him. When a man reveals himself by some 

 brilliant and intelligent works, the public is pleased to 

 find them united with good qualities of the heart. Nor 

 should its joy be less hearty on discovering the absence 

 of all intellectual merit in a man who had before shown 

 himself despicable by his passions, or his vices, or even 

 only by serious blemishes of character. 



If I have not yet named the enemy of our colleague, 

 if I have contented myself with recounting his actions, it 

 is in order to avoid as much as I can the painful feeling 



