220 LIFE OF HORACE BENEDICT DE SAUSSURE 



that he had taken no precautions, and it was natural that the days 

 being longer and the sun more powerful at this season he had been 

 more affected. 



' I waited, then, his arrival with impatience ; all my instruments 

 were ready, and I was afraid that while he came to fetch me and I 

 was travelling to Chamonix, the weather might change and that I 

 might lose perhaps my only chance. My wife shared my feelings, 

 and we consequently fixed our start for Saturday, July 7th. 



' It is with reason I say we, for we are six on this journey : my wife, 

 who imagines she will be less anxious at Chamonix, her sisters, who 

 will not leave her, and my two sons. 1 We came into Geneva [from 

 Genthod] to sleep on Friday, intending to start very early next morning 

 and to get through in the day to Chamonix. 



' On Saturday morning it poured ; it was late before we could load 

 up, so we did not get off from the town till 6.10 A.M. We took four 

 hours to Bonneville, where we found the fresh horses we had sent on 

 in advance. The weather was too bad when we got to Sallanches to 

 think of going on to Chamonix.' 



On Sunday the weather was uncertain, and the party remained 

 at Sallanches, where Jacques Balmat met them, and Bourrit 

 appeared, having closely followed the party from Geneva. Madame 

 de Saussure sent a letter to her daughter by his return driver 

 to reassure her as to their prospects and to explain that their 

 delay was the fault of the weather, and ' not of the three sisters, or 

 of the black and jonquil hat, the most elegant in the world, which 

 is worn by your Aunt Tronchin.' a 



' Monday, 8th. Left Sallanches in charabancs at 7.10. The rain 

 began as we started, and got worse continually. We went on, how- 

 ever, and it fortunately stopped while we crossed on foot the Nant 

 de Joux, where we lost an hour and a half owing to the road being 

 destroyed by the torrent, and our ladies were obliged to be carried. 

 We lunched at Servoz while our horses baited, and after passing 

 with some difficulty the Nants of the valley, arrived at Chamonix 

 at 3.30. We had for companion on the road Jacques Balmat, who 

 met us on his way to Geneva to bring me the news of his second 

 attempt (this year) on Mont Blanc. He had started on the 4th with 



1 His daughter, Madame Necker-de Saussure, who was in delicate health, 

 expresses in letters which have been preserved, her passionate regret at not being 

 able to be one of the party, and her eagerness for news of her father's success and 

 afe return. 



* See portrait of Madame Tronchin, p. 256. 



