CHAPTER XVI 

 BONNET AND HALLER 



IN the opening chapter Albrecht von Haller was spoken of as the 

 last link in the chain of writers connected with Alpine subjects 

 who preceded de Saussure. I there pointed out that it was to his 

 uncle, Charles Bonnet, that the young Professor owed his early 

 introduction to the famous Bernese physician and botanist . These 

 two men were destined to influence him through life, to give a 

 direction and encouragement to his travels and scientific pursuits. 

 Hk name was fated to be coupled with theirs in the minds and 

 mouths of the next generation of his fellow-citizens : 



' Emules et jamais rivaux 

 Ne cherchons que verites sures, 

 Rassemblons dans nos travaux 

 Plus de faits que conjectures : 

 Ayons toujours devant les yeux 

 Haller, Bonnet et de Saussure, 

 Nous saurons nous montrer comme eux 

 Les vrais amis de la Nature.' 



Thus chanted, a few months after Waterloo, the guests at a 

 banquet held at Geneva to inaugurate a Helvetic Society of 

 Science. In the course of more than a century the fame of the 

 two elder philosophers has grown somewhat dim, but as the chief 

 formative influences on the character and career of de Saussure 

 they seem to claim a more particular notice, which may con- 

 veniently find a place here before we attempt a final summary 

 and estimate of the scientific achievements of their more 

 illustrious disciple. 



Charles Bonnet (1720-1793) belonged by birth to the aristo- 

 cracy of the Upper Town. His father owned a country-house and 

 property at Thonex, a few miles out of Geneva, on the Savoy side. 

 Here the boy was mainly brought up. He was backward for his 

 age in his lessons, and was also hampered by a deafness which 



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