THE 



EDINBURGH 

 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 



Art. I. — Biographical Memoir o/"Mark Augustus Pictet, 

 Professor of Natural Philosophy at Geneva, Corresponding 

 Member of the Institute of France, and Fellow of the 

 Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, &c. 



There are few of the philosophers of the present age who 

 have a greater claim to the admiration and gratitude of pos- 

 terity, than that venerable individual whose life we are about 

 to survey. Some there are, whose talents have placed them 

 in greater affluence, and elevated them to higher dignities ; 

 others there may be, whose discoveries have shone with a 

 more brilliant lustre, and illuminated a wider range of science ; 

 but there are none who possessed, in a more eminent degree, 

 the genuine bearing of a philosopher — who laboured with 

 more enthusiasm in exploring the mysteries of science — or who 

 cherished a purer devotion in studying the laws, or in con- 

 templating the wonders of the physical world. In a degene- 

 rate age, when the fair empire of science is assailed on one 

 side by the despotism of intellectual pride, and overrun from 

 the other by hordes of charlatans, it is refreshing to trace the 

 progress of a powerful mind, uniting to the attributes of a phi- 

 losopher the accomplishments of a scholar and a gentleman, 



and directing its energies to the interests of his country, and 



to the amelioration of his species. 



The individual who possessed these qualities, was born at 



Geneva in 1752, and was descended from an ancient family, 



who had distinguished themselves in that interesting city. 

 vol. v. NO. I. JULY 1826. A 



