m morn till night, never mix in society, and
rarely breathe the pure air of heaven. These maladies
shortened the days of Baillet; after he had faithfully
served the LAMOIGNONS as a librarian of unparalleled
diligence and sagacity; leaving behind him a "_Catalogue des
Matieres_," in 35 volumes folio. "All the curious used to
come and see this catalogue: many bishops and magistrates
requested to have either copies or abridgments of it." When
Baillet was dragged, by his friend M. Hermant, from his
obscure vicarage of Lardieres, to be Lamoignon's librarian,
he seems to have been beside himself for joy.--"I want a man
of such and such qualities," said Lamoignon.--"I will bring
one exactly to suit you," replied Hermant--"but you must put
up with a diseased and repulsive exterior."--"Nous avons
besoin de fond," said the sensible patron, "la forme ne
m'embarasse point; l'air de ce pays, et un grain de sel
discret, fera le reste: il en trouvera ici." Baillet came,
and his biographer tells us that Lamoignon and Hermant
"furent ravis de le voir." To the eternal honour of the
family in which he resided, the crazy body and nervous mind
of Baillet met with the tenderest treatment. Madame
Lamoignon and her son (the latter, a thorough bred
bibliomaniac; who, under the auspices of his master, soon
eclipsed the book celebrity of his father) always took a
pleasure in anticipating his wishes, soothing his
irritabilities, promoting his views, and speaking loudly and
constantly of the virtues of his head and heart. The last
moments of Baillet were marked with true Christian piety and
fortitude; and his last breath breathed a blessing upon his
benefactors. He died A.D. 1706, aetatis 56. Rest his ashes in
peace!--and come we now to his bibliographical publications.
His "_Jugemens des Savans_," was first published in 1685,
&c., in nine duodecimo volumes. Two other similar volumes of
_Anti Baillet_ succeeded it. The success and profits of this
work were very considerable. In the year 1722, a new edition
of it in seven volumes, quarto, was undertaken and completed
by De La Monnoye, with notes by the editor, and additions of
the original author. The "Anti Baillet" formed the 8th
volume. In the year 1725, De La Monnoye's edition, with his
notes placed und