In some few instances also we have found ourselves called upon to adopt a more critical tone; where we were disposed to dissent from the view taken by the author on particular questions of a controversial kind, or when he is arguing in support, or in refutation, of opposing theories on some points of science not yet satisfactorily cleared up. We could have wished that our duty as translators and editors had not extended beyond such mere occasional scientific or literary criticism. But there unfortunately seemed to be one or two points where, in pronouncing on the claims of distinguished individuals, or criticizing their inventions, a doubt could not but be felt as to the perfect _fairness_ of Arago's judgment, and in which we were constrained to express an unfavourable opinion on the manner in which the relative pretensions of men of the highest eminence seemed to be decided, involving what might sometimes be fairly regarded as undue prejudice, or possibly a feeling of personal or even national jealousy. Much as we should deprecate the excitement of any feeling of hostility of this kind, yet we could not, in our editorial capacity, shrink from the plain duty of endeavouring to advocate what appeared to us right and true; and we trust that whatever opinion may be entertained as to the _conclusions_ to which we have come on such points, we shall not have given ground for any complaint that we have violated any due courtesy or propriety in our _mode_ of expressing those conclusions, or the reasons on which they are founded. CONTENTS. PAGE THE HISTORY OF MY YOUTH. An Autobiography of Francis Arago 1 BAILLY. Introduction 91 Infancy of Bailly.--His Youth.--His Literary Essays.--His Mathematical Studies 93 Bailly becomes the Pupil of Lacaille.--He is associated with him in his Astronomical Labours 97 Bailly a Member of the Academy of Sciences.--His Researches on Jupiter's Satellites 103 Bailly's Literary Works.--His Biographies of Charles V.--of Leibnitz--of Peter Corneille--of Moliere 106 Debates relative to the Post of Perpetual Secretary of the Academy of Sciences 110 History of Astronomy.--Letters on the Atlantis of Plato and on the Ancient History of Asia 114 First Interview of Bailly with Franklin.--His Entrance into the French Academy in 1783.--His Reception.--Discourse.--His Rupture with Buffon 121 Report on Animal Magnetism 127 Election of Bailly into the Academy of Inscriptions 155