<2Q6 SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



Account of ven- taken from the late times of anarchy and convulfion In France ; 



tnloquiim. when the loweft, the moil ignorant part of fociety, was called 



upon to decide the fate of a whole people by the energies of 

 folly and brute violence. The fame remark may be applied 

 to this debate, as to the other fcene refpe&ing tooth-drawing ; 

 namely, that the quick and fudden tranfitions, and the great 

 differences in the voices gave the audience various notions, 

 as well with regard to the number of fpeakers, as to their po- 

 rtions and the direction of their voices. 



This account of a very celebrated ventriloquift may perhaps 

 feem too minute and particular for a philosophical Journal, 

 which is lefs devoted to do juftice to. the talents of men, than 

 to inveftigate the caufes of things. But where a flriking de- 

 lufion may lead to miftaken theories of found, I conceive it to 

 be no fmall part of the argument, which is to fet the truth in 

 a clear light, to mew how numerous and extraordinary the 

 acquifitions and the ability of the performer may be. There 

 is likewife a point of delicacy arifing from the fufpicion of 

 improper motives, when a public performer is fpoken of in 

 terms of approval by a periodical writer. On this head, how- 

 ever, I feel fo little difficulty, that I am almoft in doubt whe- 

 ther I mould obliterate the lail observation, or fuffer it to pafs« 



Afcent of Mont Blanc and Mont Perdu, 



AfcentofMont M. Forneret of Laufanne, and the Baron de Dortheren, 



Blanc by M. have undertaken a new excurlion to the fummit of Mont Blanc. 



Dortheren? After two days travel, they arrived at the fummit, where the 



wind was fo turbulent that they were forced to lit together 



with their guides in a mafs to prevent their being precipitated. 



The cold was fix degrees below congelation, and with the 



rarity of the air affected their lungs in fo painful a manner, that 



they declare that no inducement mould prevail on them to 



repeat this expedition. The enterprize was without any 



beneficial confequence to the fciences. Bibliotheque de Sonini. 



bydeSaufiure, It was in the year 1787, that the celebrated De Sauflure, 



arrived at the fummit of Mont Blanc ; and his voyage was 



confidered as a real conqueft for the natural fciences. Sonini 



of Mont Perdu has learned by a private letter, that the indefatigable Ramond, 



by Ramond. we \\ known from his refearches in natural hiftory, has at laft 



reached the fummit of Mont Perdu, the giant of the Pyre- 



neans, 



