OF THE FRENCH GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 421 
ever, lest I should be accused of egotism, I will not enlarge on this 
subject. We dismounted at the principle inn, and were received by 
all the chief people of the place, who informed us that they expect- 
ed the honour of our company to dinner. Such an offer could not 
be refused, and we agreed so far to change our plans as to sleep at 
Bienne, and proceed next morning on the lake, to Neuveville, 
where we had made arrangements to take up our quarters, and 
where, it turned out afterwards, we had been anxiously expected, 
and the town was to have been illuminated for our amusement. 
However, we stopped, as I said, at Bienne, and thence made a 
short excursion round the town, to look at some uncommonly large 
boulders of granite, gneiss, and porphyry, which are very numerous 
on the mountains behind the town, and were interesting when ta- 
ken in connection with certain flat, polished spots, on the face of the 
Jura oolite, upon which they were lying. As, however, I must say 
more on this subject before concluding my account, I will pass it by 
at present. From Bienne, next morning, we went by the lake to 
Neuveville, at least some took water, but many preferred walking, 
as the weather was extremely unfavourable, and there was every 
‘appearance of a thoroughly wet day. Notwithstanding the rain, 
however, all agreed that we ought not to omit visiting the little is- 
land St. Pierre—so celebrated as the abode of Jean Jacques Rous- 
seau—and we were put ashore there, but, alas! to very little pur- 
pose, as we could neither enjoy the beauties of the island, or see 
any of the prospects which make it so charming a residence. For 
want, I suppose, of out-of-door’s work, the society held a meeting in 
the bed-room of the Frenchman’s idol, some of the members sitting 
on three chairs, with which the room was furnished, some on the 
the table, others on the floor, and the rest, of whom I was one, on 
the very bed on which he had slept. Not being of a very imagina- 
tive disposition, I must confess that I was not inspired, and could 
not discover any very striking proofs of inspiration in the two or 
three exceedingly dull papers which were read by the members of 
the society, and completed the business of the meeting. After our 
“seance”’ we took boat, and soon found ourselves approaching 
Neuveville, the information being given by the salutes which were 
fired, rather than by any view which the heavy and incessant rain 
permitted us to have of the place. 
We could not, of course, do much under such circumstances, but 
resolved not to be beaten. We went to sce a fine example of po- 
lished rock in the vicinity, and then returned, dined, and made our 
way back to Bienne in the evening, as wet, cold, and miserable, as 
