ANNALS 



OF 



PHILOSOPHY. 



OCTOBER, 1818. 



Article I. 



Biographical Account of M. Senebier.* 



THE little republic of Geneva, which has afforded us so many 

 topics for scientific biography, was the native place of the sub- 

 ject of this memoir. J. Senebier was born in this city in May, 

 1742; we have few particulars related respecting his parents ; 

 but it appears that they were persons of worth and respectability, 

 and in that middle rank of life which, if not the most favourable 

 for the development of extraordinary genius, seems to be the 

 best adapted for the cultivation of the amiable qualities of the 

 heart. He entered at an early period upon his studies in the 

 college of Geneva, and was proceeding in them with success, 

 when his father, who is described as a prudent man of business, 

 obliged him to abandon his literary pursuits, and to enter upon 

 a commercial occupation, from which he had himself derived 

 considerable emolument, and which he wished to transfer to his 

 son. The wishes of the elder Senebier were given in so decided 

 a manner, that the young man obeyed without a struggle, he 

 entered into his father's office, and appears for a time to have 

 completely devoted himself to his altered plan of life. A year's 

 initiation in his new employment does not, however, appear to 

 have effected any radical change in his views or wishes ; he still 

 sighed in secret for a college life, regretted the time which he 

 had been absent from his studies, and watched, with painful 

 emotiuns, the progress which his late associates were making 



• The facts in this memoir are extracted from an elogc on M. Seoebier by 

 M. Maunoir, which was read before the Society of Aits in Geunva. 



Vol. XII. N° IV Q 



