324 LIFE OF HORACE BENEDICT DE SAUSSURE 



the invalid ' hampers of the finest wine and quinine,' but they 

 arrived too late, for Haller died in December. Joseph n. bought 

 his library, with many of his manuscripts, and presented them to 

 the University of Pavia. They are now stored in the Biblioteca 

 Ambrosiana at Milan. 



A few days later de Saussure found himself at the Baths of 

 Loeche, at the foot of the Gemmi, whence he wrote to his wife a 

 lively description of the bathers. He was fortunate in being wel- 

 comed by the talented Dutchwoman married to a Neuchatelois, 

 Madame de Charriere, to whom Saintc-Beuve has dedicated 

 many pages. 1 She had already been a guest at the house in the 

 Rue de la Cit6, where her presence at a dinner party is recorded in 

 Albertine's diary. 



De Saussure anticipates and confirms the verdict of the great 

 critic on the author of Caliste and the Lettres Neuchateloises. 

 He speaks warmly of her ' gaiety and real wit,' and takes 

 credit to himself with his wife for resisting her invitation 

 to prolong his stay. In the woman who wrote, ' Sitting at 

 my window and looking out on the lake, I thank you, moun- 

 tains, snow, and sun, for all the pleasure you give me,' he 

 must have found a congenial spirit. She introduced him to 

 the Assembly, where the beauties of Lausanne outshone the 

 Valaisannes, who wore their local costume. De Saussure 

 writes : 



' If not very elegant, it was all very singular ; the most singular 

 thing is to see them all en chemise, men and women, in the same bath. 

 It is most entertaining, when this circle of people has been formed, to 

 witness new arrivals make their entry and their bows in this comical 

 crowd.' 



The custom survived till the middle of the last century, when on 

 the entry of English visitors the bathers were wont to strike up 

 ' God Save the Queen ! ' De Saussure dined and supped with 

 Madame de Charriere, who held him in conversation, much to the 

 disappointment of the ladies from Lausanne, who were eager for a 

 card party. 



The year 1779 was marked by the death of de Saussure 's 

 second brother-in-law, Turrettini, a loss by which the whole family 



1 See Sainte-Beuve, Portraits Litiiraires, vol. Hi., and Portraits de Femmes, and 

 Sayoua, Le dix-huilitme Sietle a VEtranger, vol. ii. 



