10 Account of a journey, &e. 
In the same year, M. Bourrit of Geneva was driven back 
by a snow storm. The following year he was again frus- 
trated by the violence of cold and fatigue. 
In,1785 M. de Saussure and M. Bourrit made ible 
attempt with fifteen guides. They arrived the evening of the 
second day at the Needle de la Cote, at the elevation of 11,442 
feet above the sea: the softness of the snow and their fa- 
tigue made them return. 
In 1786 six men made another trial ; but were forced to 
relinquish the enterprise. One of them, named J. Balmat, 
wandered from the rest, and passed the night alone on the 
glacier—in the morning he found himself near the top. He 
returned and suffered much from an affection of the face 
and eyes. He was attended by Dr. Paccard, and in grati- 
tude offered to conduct him to the summit—which he did a 
few weeks afterwards. They found it extremely cold— 
their provisions froze in their pockets, and the ink in their 
inkhorns—they remained only a few minutes, and descend- 
ed to the village ina shocking condition. Dr. P. had his 
hands and feet frozen—and Balmat’s face was disfigured for 
eight days. 
The same year de Saussure tried again without success. 
The year following he made another attempt with seventeen 
guides—and onthe third day of his journey reached the sum- 
mit. He passed there five hours in making those observa- 
tions and experiments that have gained him so much and 
so, deserved reputation. On the fifth day they returned to 
Chamouny. 
The next day M. Bourrit made his fourth attempt, but was 
forced to return. 
In 1788 he tried again with Mr. Woodley, an English- 
man, and M. Camper, a Hollander—a storm dispersed the 
party, but Mons. B. with three guides gained the summit. They 
descended immediately. Mr. Woodley had his hands and 
leet frozen—M. Bourrit was forced to use ice applications 
for thirteen days—the guides suffered from frozen fingers 
and toes. 
In 1790 Col. Beaufoy, an English Officer, gained the 
summit, and returned with the fear of losing his sight—he 
however recovered. 
In 1792 four Englishmen undertook the task—but were 
forced to return—all of them much hurt. One guide had 
nis leg broken, and another fractured his skull. 
