222 BAILLY. 



victory of Nanteans, our colleague hastened to follow 

 out his project, formed a short time before, of withdraw- 

 ing from the insurgent provinces. 



Up to the beginning of July 1793, Melun had enjoyed 

 perfect tranquillity. Bailly knew it through M. de La- 

 place, who, living retired in that chief town of the depart- 

 ment, was there composing the immortal work in which 

 the wonders of the heavens are studied with so much 

 depth and genius. He also knew that the great geome- 

 ter, hoping to be still more retired in a cottage on the 

 banks of the Seine, and out of the town, was going to 

 dispose of his house in Melun. It is easy to guess that 

 Bailly would be charmed with the prospect of residing 

 far away from political agitation, and near to his illustri- 

 ous friend ! 



The arrangements were promptly made, and on the 

 6th of July, M. and Madame Bailly quitted Nantes in 

 company with M. and Madame Villenave, who were 

 going to Rennes. 



At this same time, a division of the revolutionary army 

 was marching to Melun. As soon as the terrible news 

 was known, Madame Laplace wrote to Bailly, persuad- 

 ing him, under covert expressions, to give up the intended 

 project. The house, she said, is at the water's edge: 

 there is extreme dampness in the rooms : Madame Bailly 

 would die there. A letter so different from those that 

 had preceded it, could not fail of its effect ; such at least 

 was the hope with which M. and Madame Laplace flat- 

 tered themselves, when about the end of July they per- 

 ceived, with inexpressible alarm, Bailly crossing the 

 garden path. " Great God, you did not then understand 

 our last letter ! " exclaimed at the same instant our col- 

 league's two friends. "I understood perfectly," Bailly 



