IaJc of De SaiiJJure. ed 



which he publifhed in 1783 under the title of EJays on Hy^ 

 gromelry. This work, the beft that ever came from his pen, 

 eftabUflied fully his reputation as a philofopher. We are in- 

 debted to him alfo for the invention of a new hverometet". 

 Deluc had already invented his whalebone hygrometer; and 

 on that account there arofe between him and De Saufllire a 

 fort of coritell, which degenerated into a pretty violent dif- 

 pute. 



In the year 1786 De Sauffure refigned the profefTor's chair, 

 \Vhich he had filled for about twenty-five years, to his pupil 

 and fellow-labourer Vi^:et, who difcharged with reputation 

 the duties of an ofiice rendered more! difficult by fucceeding 

 fo eminent a philofopher. 



When Dc Saullure was invited by the ftate to take a fliare 

 in the public education, he made it one of the fubjefts of his 

 meditations, and prefented the plan of a reform in the edu- 

 cation of Genevii, the tendency of which was, to make young 

 people early acquainted with the natural fcienccs and mathe- 

 matics. He even wifhed that their phyfical education fliould 

 not be neglcfted, and with that vie\y propofed g)-mnaftiG 

 exercifcs. This plan, which excited much attention in a city 

 where every one is convinced of the importance of education, 

 found admirers and parlifans; butthepoverty of its pecuniary 

 refources was an obftacle to every important innovation. It 

 was befides feared that, by altering eftabliflied forms, they 

 might lofe the fubftance, and that things might be changed 

 for the worfe. The Gtincveie wei-c attached to their old fyf- 

 tcm of education ; and they had reafon to be fo, becaufc it 

 had not only proved the means of diffafing knowledge gene- 

 rally amongd them, but had called forth the talents of fevefal 

 eminent mathematicians* and philofophcrsf. 



But Dc SaulVurc's attention was not confined to public cdu- 



* Abauiit, Craijicr, Lhuilitr, J. Trcmbliy, &c. 



f Jaldbcrt, A. Trctnblcy, Jionnct, Lcfu^e, Deluc, Sentbicr, PrJvoft, 



H J, catiot) 



