HIS ADMINISTRATION AS MAYOR. 195 



knowledge, I should be sorry not to see in it the answer 

 made to Francis II. by one of the numerous officers who 

 committed the fault, so honestly acknowledged after- 

 wards, a fault that no one would commit now, that of 

 joining foreigners in arms. The Austrian prince, after 

 his coronation, attempted, at a review, to induce our 

 countrymen to admire the good bearing of his troops, and 

 finally exclaimed, " There are materials wherewith to 

 crush the Sans-culottes." " That remains to be seen ! " 

 instantly answered the emigre officer. 



May these quotations lead some able writer to erect a 

 monument still wanting to the glory of our country! 

 There is in this subject, it seems to me, enough to inspire 

 legitimate ambition. Did not Plutarch immortalize him- 

 self by preserving noble actions and fine sentiments from 

 oblivion ? 



EXAMINATION OF BAILLY's ADMINISTRATION AS MAYOR. 



The illustrious Mayor of Paris had not the leisure to 

 continue writing his reminiscences beyond the date of the 

 2d of October, 1789. The analysis and appreciation of 

 the events subsequent to that epoch will remain deprived 

 of that influential sanction, pure as virtue, concise and 

 precise as truth, which I found in the handwriting of our 

 colleague. Xenocrates, historians say, who was celebrated 

 among the Greeks for his honesty, being called to bear 

 witness before a tribunal, the judges with common con- 

 sent stopped him as he was advancing towards the altar 

 according to the usual custom, and said, " These formal- 

 ities are not required from you ; an oath would add 

 nothing to the authority of your words." Such, Bailly 

 presents himself to the reader of his Posthumous Me- 

 moirs. None of his assertions leave any room for in- 



