196 LIFE OF HORACE BENEDICT DE SAUSSURE 



The only clue I can offer is the fact that about this time, at the 

 instigation of M. Hennin, the French Resident at Geneva, steps 

 were being taken to ascertain the rate of movement of the Mer de 

 Glace opposite the Montenvers. This is a sign that a new interest 

 in glacial problems was springing up. Who were the promoters 

 who shared in the undertaking ? 



If it is difficult to believe that Bordier, who has no known 

 claim to any scientific interests or capacity, should have had 

 the insight shown in this instance, it is certainly remarkable that 

 de Saussure should not have thought the hypothesis thus put 

 forward at some length deserving of his consideration, or even of a 

 passing comment. We know he had seen Bordier's book, for 

 in a letter written from Contamines in 1774 he refers to having 

 felt the reverse of flattered at having the authorship of the 

 Voyage Pittoresque attributed to him by the local Vicaire. De 

 Saussure's nature was too generous to allow us to attribute his 

 silence to any feelings of jealousy. The best suggestion I can 

 offer, and I admit it is a poor one, is that he glanced at the com- 

 paratively trivial narrative of the early chapters of Bordier's 

 volume and then threw it hastily aside. 



