In the year 1788, Saussure set out for the Alps for the purpose of completing some of the researches which he had previously commenced. Along with his eldest son he encamped seventeen clays on the Col du Geant, during which he was enabled to make many interesting- observations both in meteorology and geo logy.
When his native city was annexed to the French re public, Saussure was chosen deputy to the national assembly, but however promising these events appear ed to men of sanguine temperament and fond of change, the more sober-minded foresaw the calamities which were to follow in their train. In the political convulsions which ensued, Saussure lost the greatest part of his fortune; and what was a greater calamity still, he lost, amid the storms of faction, that tranquil lity, and peace of mind, which constitute the patrimo ny of a philosopher. His health was rapidly affected by the distresses which he experienced in common with his country, and in 1794, a severe paralytic affec tion deprived him or the use of his limbs. His mind, however, though disturbed, was still active, and sought to forget its afflictions in the preparation of his travels for the press, the two last volunws of which appeared in 1796. About this time he also published his Ohser valions on the Fusibility of Stones by means of the Blow pipe, an instrument, the value of which, first pointed out by Galin, had scarcely been recognised in the south of Europe. The health of Saussurc was now so far gone, that the aid of the ablest physicians could give him no relief. His powers of articulation were now greatly affected. His mind lost its vigour, and he died on the 22d of March 1799, in the 59th year of his age, deeply lamented by all who knew him.
Saussure left behind him two sons and a daughter, whose education he superintended with the greatest care. His eldest son, Theodore de Saussurc, is well known by his talents, and his chemical researches.
Besides his hygrometer, which we have already mentioned, Saussure invented the in vented for measuring the blue colour of the sky; a DIAPHANOMETER,t for measuring the transparency of the atmosphere, and an ELECTROMETERt for measuring small degrees of electricity. An account of his expe riment on the electricity produced by evaporation,§ on the electricity of the human body, and on the electri city of the atmosphere, have been detailed at great length in our article ELECTRICITY.
Although the principal part of Saussure's life was devoted to the examination of the Alps, yet he found leisure to pay two visits to France, one for the purpose of studying the extinct volcanoes of Auvergne, and the other to make himself acquainted with the practice of aerostation. He likewise paid a visit to England, where he became acquainted with Dr. Franeker. Dur ing a journey to Italy he visited the iron mines of Elba; he measured the height of mount Etna, and he ascended Vesuvius in company with our countryman Sir William Hamilton. Saussure was also fond of botanical pursuits. He discovered several new species of lichens, and two kinds of tremella having an oscil latory motion; and yet no genus has been dedicated to his name. In our articles ALPS, and CHAMOUNI, our readers will find many of Saussure's opinions and de scriptions of scenery.