6 Biographical Memoir of Mark Augustus Pictet. 



added to this obligation, by his zeal and success in improving 

 its psalmody and sacred music. 



In 1814, when the Imperial Government of France sunk 

 under the efforts of the allied sovereigns, Professor Pictet was 

 one of the first to hail the deliverance of his country. The 

 writer of this notice had the happiness to see him a few months 

 after this event in the midst of his family and his fellow citi- 

 zens, and to witness the delight with which he looked forward 

 to the renewal of his former relations with our happy island. 



The great changes which had now taken place in the rela- 

 tive position of the European governments, induced our au- 

 thor, in 1816, to give a new form to his Journal. He now 

 adopted the title of Bibliotheque Universelle, under which he 

 was enabled to give an account of the discoveries and produc- 

 tions of every part of Europe. 



In the spring of 1818, Professor Pictet made a second tour 

 to England and Scotland, with the view of placing his grand- 

 son, M. C. Vernet, in Edinburgh. The writer of this notice 

 was fortunate enough to meet him on this occasion in the 

 scientific circles in London, and to accompany him, and the 

 celebrated Baron Cuvier, to several of the public works and 

 institutions of the metropolis. We accompanied him also in 

 his journey to Edinburgh, and had numerous' opportunities 

 of witnessing the respect and affection with which he was every- 

 where received. 



On his return to Geneva in 1818, he directed his attention 

 to the various public institutions, of which he was always the 

 leading and the most active member. He was the Genevese 

 president of the Helvetic Society of the Natural Sciences, 

 which was founded by M. Gosse, after the separation of Ge- 

 neva from France ; and, during two years, he was never ab- 

 sent from any of its meetings. He was also the president 

 of the Society of Arts at Geneva ; and, in this situation, he 

 was brought into contact with the most eminent artists of that 

 city, to whom he gave the most important assistance in per- 

 fecting their inventions and improvements. 



Meteorology was one of the favourite studies of our author. 

 He was the first who conceived the idea of instituting obser- 

 vations on some of the highest mountains of Europe ; and, 



