76 LIFE OF HORACE BENEDICT DE SAUSSURE 



the Academy.' His more formidable rival, Frai^ois Mercier, had 

 subsequently a creditable career as a Professor and Rector of the 

 Academy. 



On the 13th December two dignified representatives of the 

 Venerable Company presented the young Professor of twenty-two 

 for confirmation in his post to the Senate or Magnificent Council 

 a body composed of twenty-five grave and reverend signers, 

 robed and capped with the flowing wigs to wear which was a 

 privilege of the aristocracy. The usual picturesque formalities 

 having been duly observed and the matter voted on both by 

 acclamation and ballot, de Saussure was introduced and took the 

 customary oath. 



De Saussure's lectures have most of them perished, but 

 fortunately enough material has been preserved among the papers 

 of two of his pupils to enable us to form a fair idea of his philo- 

 sophical position. Of his attitude towards physical inquiry, the 

 Voyages, and above all the list of Agenda appended to their last 

 volume, supply the best illustration. More will be said on these 

 topics when we come to sum up his general character and position 

 as an observer and philosopher. 



De Saussure lectured in French on Physics one year, and the 

 next in Latin on Metaphysics. For his Inaugural Discourse, 

 delivered in October 1763, the Professor chose a subject of 

 practical and perennial interest, one which he was twelve years 

 later to develop more fully. He writes to Haller : 



' On Friday I shall pronounce my Inaugural Discourse. I have 

 taken as its subject " An Analysis of the Qualities necessary to form a 

 Philosopher, and of the education to be given to children in order to 

 foster or call forth such qualities." You will easily believe, Monsieur, 

 that I am not going to sing the praises of the education in vogue with 

 us and elsewhere, and that I do not insist on the study of Greek and 

 Latin as the essential last touch in education.' 



In this matter de Saussure, himself no mean scholar, shows a 

 singularly impartial mind. But let us hope that, as regards 

 children (enfants is the word used), philosophy was given a re- 

 stricted interpretation by the Professor of twenty-three. 



During 1762 de Saussure kept up a lively correspondence with 

 Haller. The latter had, it appears, placed one of his sons in some 



