403 
BALLOON ASCENTS, AND THEIR SCIENTIFIC 
IMPORTANCE. 
BY JAjVIES GLAISHER, F.R.S., 
PRESIDENT OF THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY, ETC., ETC. 
K>« 
S EVENTEEN years before Gay-Lussac made bis balloon 
ascent for the advancement of science, M. De Saussure, 
of Geneva, performed his memorable journey of ascending to 
the summit of Mont Blanc, and succeeded in making observa- 
tions at the height of 15,000 feet and upwards ; an achievement 
which had been the desire of his life. This was in the year 1787, 
four years after the first ascent of a hydrogen-gas balloon with 
Messrs. Charles and Robert, from Paris. 
The weather was favourable, the snow was compact and 
hard. The party consisted of De Saussure, his servant, and 
eighteen guides. There was no difficulty or danger in the 
early part of the ascent, their footsteps being either on the 
grass or the rock itself. After six hours^ incessant climbing 
the party found themselves 6,000 feet above the village of 
Chamouni, from which they had started, and 9,500 feet above 
the level of the sea. At this height De Saussure and his 
party prepared to encamp, and to pass the first night. They 
slept under a tent on the edge of the glacier of the Montague 
de la Cote. By next day at noon they were 2,000 feet above 
perpetual frost ; and after eight hours^ climbing on the second 
day, they were 13,300 feet above the sea, having made less 
than 4,000 feet of vertical height during the entire day. Here 
they passed the second night. The guides had to dig out the 
snow for their lodging-. Into the hollow thus made some straw 
was thrown, and across it a tent was stretched. Their water 
was frozen ; but they were furnished with a small charcoal 
brazier to melt snow, which, for twenty persons, proved 
insufficient. 
The cold next morning was excessive ; but before they 
could again depart on their toilsome journey, they had to melt 
snow for their breakfast and to serve on then* journey to come. 
On starting on this the third day, the rarefaction of the air 
affected their lungs, an inconvenience increasing step by step. 
But little advantage was found by frequent prolonged rests, 
made in the hope of recruiting- their strength ; at every dozen 
VOL. IV. — NO. XVI. 2 E 
