tHft 



EDINBURGH NEW 



PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNAL. 



On the Life and Writings of Theodore de Saussure* 

 By Professor Mac AIRE. 



It is an occurrence by no means common in science, arid 

 still rarer in literature, to witness the son of a man of genius 

 acquiring a high degree of celebrity in consequence of his own 

 personal merits. If we judge, however, only by appearances, 

 it would seem that this ought not to be the case. What ad- 

 vantages, in the pursuit of science for example, ought to sur- 

 round a young man who has, from his infancy, received in- 

 struction, encouragement, and good example, from a father 

 whom science has rendered famous ! What facilities for pro- 

 secuting his studies, — what excellent advice to prevent him 

 being discouraged by the first difficulties ! There is, some* 

 thing, nevertheless, which is more than equivalent to all these 

 advantages. As a poet has said, 



" C'est un pesant fardeau qu'un nom trop tot fameux." 



The son of a celebrated man enters upon his career crushed 

 rather than supported by the name which he bears. His 

 earliest efforts, which would be judged of with indulgence if 

 they proceeded from a new man, are found unworthy of the 

 brilliant renown of the name under which they are brought 

 forward. Like a planet which is too near the sun, he cannot 

 sufficiently divest himself of the rays of the paternal glory to 

 shine by his own light ; he is discouraged, and too often con- 

 tents himself with the borrowed splendour he derives from 

 this source. 



VOL. XL. NO. LXXIX.— -JAN. 1846. A 



