PORTRAIT OF BAILLY. 251 



through this rough bark, the inexhaustible benevolence 

 of the good man ; the kindness that always accompanies 

 a serene mind, and even some rudiments of gayety. 



Bailly early endeavoured to model his conduct on that 

 of the Abbe de Lacaille, who directed his first steps in 

 the career of astronomy. And therefore it will be found 

 that in transcribing five or six lines of the very feeling 

 eulogy that the pupil dedicated to the memory of his 

 revered master, I shall have made known at the same 

 time many of the characteristic traits of the panegyrist : 



" Pie was cold and reserved towards those of whom he 

 knew little ; but gentle, simple, equable, and familiar in 

 the intercourse of friendship. It is there that, throwing 

 off the grave exterior which he wore in public, he gave 

 himself up to a peaceful and amiable gayety." 



The resemblance between Bailly and Lacaille goes no 

 farther. Bailly informs us that the great astronomer 

 proclaimed truth on all occasions, without disquieting 

 himself as to whom it mijrht wound. He would not 



o 



consent to put vice at its ease, saying : 



" If good men thus showed their indignation, bad men 

 being known, and vice unmasked, could no longer do 

 harm, and virtue would be more respected." This Spar- 

 tan morality could not accord with Bailly's character ; he 

 admired but did not adopt it. 



Tacitus took as a motto : " To say nothing false, to 

 omit nothing true." Our colleague contented himself in 

 society with the first half of the precept. Kever did 

 mockery, bitterness, or severity issue from his lips. His 

 manners were a medium between those of Lacaille and 

 the manners of another academician who had succeeded 

 in not making a single enemy, by adopting the two 

 axioms : " Every thing is possible, and everybody is in 

 the right." 



