304 LIFE OF HORACE BENEDICT DE SAUSSURE 



shed, and an end came in the complete sweeping away of the 

 historic constitution of Geneva and its temporary annexation to 

 the French Republic. 



From time to time in these recurring contentions the opposing 

 forces came to blows, and even bloodshed. But the Genevese were 

 more handy with the pen than with the sword, and their party 

 spirit found a ready and enjoyable vent in the flights of pamphlets, 

 both in prose and rhyme, which were hurled from side to side with 

 but little intermission. An industrious bibliographer has compiled 

 a catalogue of no fewer than 5885, published between 1735 and 1795 ! 



At intervals variety and relief were sought in formal recon- 

 ciliations. Church services were held to celebrate the restoration 

 of peace, and Geneva gave itself up to processions, garlands, 

 banquets, and fine sentiments. It would almost seem as if the 

 enforced absence of reasonable amusements had driven the 

 Genevese into a habit of holding these frequent political gambols 

 and junketings, harmless enough in themselves, but sadly incon- 

 gruous, and even dangerous, when they occurred as interludes in 

 the midst of strife and civil broils. In short, all parties in the 

 State amused themselves by playing with fire until they became 

 finally involved and scorched in the great European conflagration. 



The reader may now, I trust, be able to follow the course of 

 events in Geneva from the date when de Saussure first took any 

 active interest in its political struggles. 



For over twenty years, however, during the whole of de Saus- 

 sure's youth, there had been relative peace within the city walls. 

 The Government was economical, free from corruption, and, on 

 the whole, benevolent. The territory of Geneva offered in the 

 condition of its inhabitants a pleasing contrast to the adjacent 

 kingdoms. Trade flourished, work was plentiful, and large 

 fortunes were accumulated by the Genevese merchants and 

 bankers. The growing prosperity led to a gradual relaxation of 

 the more austere features of Calvinism its control became less 

 arbitrary both in matters of dress and dogma. In 1770 there was 

 a two days' debate in the Senate on the sumptuary regulations, 

 which ended in their substantial modification. The humours 

 and discontents of democracy found a safety-valve in a profusion 

 of pamphlets and squibs of a relatively harmless character. It 

 was not until the dangerous eloquence of Rousseau sounded in 



