(Jean-Sylvain), who made such a figure during the first years of the French revolution, was born at Paris on the 15th of September 1736, of a family which had been distinguished painters during four successive generations. He was bred to the same profession, but showed an early taste for poetry and the belles lettres. Chancing, however, to become acquainted with the geometer La Caille, this circumstance decided his genius, and he thenceforth devoted himself to the cultivation of science. He calculated the orbit of the comet of 1759; and on the 29th of January 1763 was received into the Academy of Sciences. In that year he published an useful and laborious compilation, being the reduction of the observations made by La Caille in 1760 and 1761, on the zodiacal stars. He likewise began to consider the theory of Jupiter's satellites, and, in the competition for this prize question of 1764, had a formidable rival in La Grange, who already promised to become the first mathematician in Europe. The results of his investigations were collected into a treatise published in 1766, containing also the history of that part of astronomy. In 1771 he gave a most curious and important memoir on the light of the satellites, and introduced a degree of accuracy till then unknown in the observations of their eclipses.

His studies were not confined to the abstract sciences; for he cultivated letters with success. His elogies of Charles V. of Cornicille, of Leibnitz, of Molière, and afterward those of Cook, La Caille, and Gréffet, were much admired. His eloquence pointed him out as a proper person to fill the charge, vacant in 1771, of secretary to the Academy of Sciences; and, under the patronage of Buffon, he stood candidate for that enviable place. He failed; but it was the high birth and promising talents of the young Condorcet, joined to the active influence of D'Alembert, that carried the prize.

In 1775 appeared the first volume of the History of Astronomy, which indeed throws the path of science with flowers, and in every respect is a most valuable work—full of animated description, of luminous narrative, and interesting detail. His very peculiar ideas concerning the early state of Upper Asia gave rise to an ingenious correspondence and discussion with the veteran philosopher Voltaire, the substance of which soon appeared in two volumes, intitled, "Letters on the Origin of Sciences," and "Letters on the Atlantide of Plato." If imagination shone forth in these effays, erudition was no less conspicuous in a great work composed in the years 1781 and 1782, on the fables and religious creeds of antiquity; which still exists in manuscript, and the publication of which would assuredly extend the fame of its author and gratify the learned world. His opinions on some points happening to coincide with the theories of Buffon, he contracted with that celebrated naturalist a close friendship, which was dissolved by Bailly's unaccountable opposition to the election of the Abbé Maury into the Académie Française. Of that academy he had been chosen secretary in 1784; and he was admitted, in the following year, into the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres; the only instance, since Fontenelle, of the same person being at once a member of all the three academies. In the meantime, the other volumes of the History of Astronomy successively appeared, and that capital work was completed in 1787 by the History of the Indian and Oriental Astronomy; a production of singular acuteness, research, and nice calculation.

In 1784 he made an elegant report to the Academy of Sciences on the animal magnetism of Melmer; and in 1786 another report, which displays the judgment and humanity of its author, on a project for a new hotel-dieu or infirmary.

We now approach the eventful period which summoned Bailly from his retirement, to enter on a political career, that was full of difficulty and danger, and for which his habits and studies appear not to have fitted him. He had seen, as others saw, the defects of the old government of France. His heart panted for civil and ecclesiastical liberty; but unfortunately, like many other philosophers both in his own country and in this, he had formed notions of that blessing which experience should have taught him can never be realized among beings. ings so imperfect as the bulk of mankind. When the states-general were summoned to meet, he was on the 26th of April 1789 nominated secretary by the electors of Paris, and then appointed one of the deputies. He was chosen president of the *Tiers État*; and when that chamber was constituted the National Assembly, he continued in the chair, and concurred in all the levelling decrees which laid the foundation of the present misery of his country, as well of most other countries of Europe.

After the taking of the Bastille, when the king was removed to Paris on the 15th of July, Bailly was called by public acclamation to the head of that city, with the title of Mayor. In his several functions he acted with integrity, courage, and moderation. He reached the summit of glory—but how mutable, alas! is human grandeur! That middle course of conduct, the aurea mediocritas, at which virtue aims, is fitted to please neither of the contending parties in the midst of revolutions; and such proved the ruin of Bailly. His popularity began to decline, and was at length changed into inveterate enmity by an unfortunate accident. On the 17th of July 1791, the populace having collected tumultuously to demand the abolition of monarchy, Bailly was ordered by the National Assembly to disperse the mob. He was obliged to proceed to the Champ-de-Mars at the risk of his life; and, in spite of all his exertions and forbearance, some shots were fired by the soldiery. It was no longer defensible to hold his perilous charge, and on the 16th of November following he gave way to the ascending reputation of Pétion. The impaired state of his health, too, rendered it expedient to retire from the focus of turbulence. He spent the year 1792 and part of 1793 in travelling through different provinces of France. During this period he wrote memoirs of the events which he had witnessed, and in which he had often been a principal actor. These came down only to the 2d of October 1789, but would make a large quarto volume; and La Lande, from whose *Éloge de Bailly* this article is taken, gives us hopes that the manuscript will be published. He was advised by his friends to withdraw from France, but he chose rather, like Socrates, to submit to the injustice and ingratitude of his country. At the nod of a vulgar tyrant he was arrested, summarily condemned by a fugitive tribunal, and on the 15th of November 1793 was delivered over to appease the vengeance of an incensed and indiscriminate populace. His sufferings were fluidly protracted, but he bore them with the calmness and magnanimity of a sage. Nature recoils at the recital of such barbarities.

In 1787 M. Bailly married the widow of one who had been during 25 years his intimate friend; a woman more qualified by her age and condition to inspire respect than the passion of love. He was tall in person, of a serious deportment, and joined firearms to sensibility. Never did philosopher distinguish himself in so many different lines, nor acquire such deserved reputation in them all. His disinterestedness was pure and unaffected; and during his magistracy he spent a part of his fortune in relieving the wants of the poor. His virtue remained as untainted in his various public relations as in the sweet retirement of domestic life.

Such is the encomium passed upon this philosopher and statesman by no less a man than the celebrated astronomer M. de la Lande; but to those who are not infected with the mania of freedom, it will doubtless appear greatly exaggerated. That M. Bailly was a man of eminence in the republic of letters, is known to all the learned of Europe; that in his political conduct he meant to promote the good of his country, it would certainly be presumptuous in us to deny; and that he suffered unjustly, is incontrovertible: But let it be remembered, that he suffered in a storm, which he exerted all his abilities to raise; and that he set an example of injustice, when he concurred in the degradation of the privileged orders, and in the violent confiscation of the property of the church.