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 of an 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. 



I 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 



