Mr F. Clissold’s successful Ascent of Mont Blcmc, 17$ 
at the Priory of Chamouny at half past seven, after an absence 
of forty-five hours. 
« We there heard that two English ladies (Mrs and Miss 
Campbell) had passed the Col du Geant, two or three hours be- 
fore we reached the Petit Mulet , and that while we were near 
that rock, they were descending at Cormayeur. They had left 
Chaumony on Sunday, and spent the night at the foot of the 
rocks of Tacul. In consequence of the ignorance of their guides* 
they met with more difficulties than I experienced. They are 
resolved to attempt, next year, or the year following, the ascent 
of Mont Blanc. B 
cc I owe so much of my success to Joseph Marie Coutet, that 
I wish to present him with a portable barometer, made by your 
excellent artist M, Gourdon, and I beg that you will endeavour 
to obtain it for him as soon as possible. 
“ I am much indebted to you for having procured me the ac- 
quaintance of M. De Saussure, and the inspection of the shoes 
which his late father wore at the time of his ascent. I got mine 
made upon the very same plan, and they enabled me to cross 
rapidly the Glacier of Boissons, and to pass where the guides 
could not follow me. I walked, indeed, with these shoes upon 
the hardest ice, as if I had been upon the solid ground 
The following are the names of my guides : 
Joseph Marie Coutet, the chief. This was his sixth ascent. 
David Coutet, his brother. This was his fourth ascent. 
Pierre Marie Favret, the strongest of them all. This was his 
third ascent. His father formerly ascended with Saussure. 
Jacques Coutet, another brother of Joseph.') wag ^ e j r 
J. Baptiste Simon. r n , 
, /. k nrst ascent. 
Matthieu Bossnet. J 
Note by Prof. Pictet, on the Specimens from Mont-Blanc . 
Mr Clissold has had the goodness to shew us his specimens, 
and give us duplicates of the most interesting. 
• These shoes have the soles sufficiently thick to receive nails of steel, cut with 
a square point, and the other end of which has a screw, which is fixed in the 
leather, on which rests the base of the pyramid, which forms the head of the nail. 
The steel is tempered, and brought back to a straw colour, which leaves it almost 
all its hardness, and renders it less liable to break. 
