CHAPTER VII 

 THE BUET 



MOUNTAINEERING in Savoy began, modestly enough, with the 

 ascent of the Buet. The story of that mountain is, in fact, a 

 prelude to that of Mont Blanc, and it brings on the scene two 

 characters who were intimately associated, though in different 

 ways, with de Saussure's activities, Jean Andre Deluc and 

 Marc Theodore Bourrit. 



It was originally proposed that the little ' temple,' the successor 

 to our countryman Blair's cabin on the Montenvers, that was 

 erected in 1795 by Felix Desportes, 1 while he was the French 

 Resident at Geneva, and dedicated by an inscription on its front 

 ' a la Nature,' should bear on its walls the names of a number of 

 men of science of European reputation, and among them of 

 six distinguished Genevese, including de Saussure, Deluc, and 

 Bourrit. It seems to me appropriate, before dealing with the 

 crowning events of de Saussure's life as an Alpine climber, to devote 

 a few pages to sketches of the men who were thus connected with 

 the great naturalist, to allow them to give some account of their 

 exploits, and, in so doing, to throw light on their very diverse 

 characters. 



Jean Andre was the elder son of Jacques Francis Deluc, 

 by trade a watchmaker and in private life an active member 

 of the popular party in Geneva, and the author of many re- 

 ligious and political tracts. Jacques Fra^ois was at one time 

 on intimate terms with Rousseau, who has left on record that he 

 found him an intolerable bore. He was, however, held in respect 

 in his native town, and we find him appointed to head the delega- 

 tion of Repre'sentants which in 1774 congratulated de Saussure on 

 his proposals for educational reform. His two sons, Jean Andr6 



1 Desportes charged Bourrit with the erection of this edifice, and gave him 

 two thousand francs for the purpose. It was furnished with beds, a table, and a 

 visitors' book. 



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