368 LIFE OF HOBACE BENEDICT DE SAUSSURE 



Commonwealth. He recognised from the first that the situation was 

 one in which it was not possible to resist the destructive torrent, but 

 rather expedient to appear to follow it, so as to obtain means to check 

 its speed and, when possible, to divert it. He enjoyed, moreover, in 

 the esteem of his fellow-citizens, a well -deserved respect independent 

 of the reputation given him by his position in the scientific world. As 

 a citizen they had seen him show himself a brave and honest aristocrat 

 in the sort of blockade to which his house had been subjected in 1782, 

 a serious and resolute character in 1789, an excellent and serviceable 

 Genevese when the French threatened a siege of the city, and he was 

 gladly recognised as a reasonable and moderate citizen in the National 

 Assembly. To sum up, Professor de Saussure was the citizen of his 

 class who knew best in each change of the political situation to adapt 

 himself with straightforwardness and dignity to the spirit of the time.' l 



Higher praise could hardly be given. 



In May 1793 de Saussure lost his beloved neighbour, friend, and 

 master, Bonnet. Despite his many infirmities, Bonnet had lived 

 to be seventy-three. Even the disturbed state of local politics 

 did not prevent his fellow-citizens from desiring to do honour to 

 his memory. It was resolved to place on his house the tablet 

 which may still be seen opposite the Place du Molard in the Rues 

 Basses. After delay caused by one of the many political riots 

 of the period, de Saussure delivered in the church of St. Germain 

 a funeral oration, which is of interest not only for its eloquent 

 appreciation of his uncle's qualities of head and heart, but also 

 as an indication of his own standpoint in religious matters. The 

 service was attended by all the authorities of the city, who 

 marched in procession from the Town Hall through the crowded 

 streets. The band, it is recorded, played the Marseillaise 'even 

 in church.' 



We have an account from the pen of Madame de Saussure of 

 Geneva as it appeared on the day on which it had been first 

 intended de Saussure should deliver his eulogy of his uncle : 



' Yesterday I passed one of those days of emotion of which the 

 habit we have acquired does not diminish the impression. There was 

 a call to arms at the orders of the Committees, or the Clubs. The 

 gates were shut, cannon rumbled, women, weeping and screaming, hung 

 out of the windows, in the evening the town had the martial appear- 



1 Mimoires Isaac Cornuaud sur Geneve ft la Revolution de 1770 a 1795, 

 publtees par Mile. E. Cherbuliez (Geneve, 1912). 



