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Colonel Beaufoy, a philosopher of considerable eminence, has lately published, in the Annals of Philosophy (No 50, Feb. 1817,) an interesting account of a journey which he made to the summit of Mount Blanc in the month of August of the year 1787.—From about the year 1776, various unsuccessful attempts had been made, by different adventurers, to reach the summit of this stupendous mountain.—The first of these attempts was made in that year by M. Couteran, accompanied by three guides from the neighbouring valley. After travelling fourteen hours, during which they had made their way over many of the most hazardous and fatiguing parts of the ascent, they arrived at the eminence next to mount Blanc, at about 13,000 feet above the Mediterranean; but perceiving that four hours would still be necessary to accomplish their enterprise, that the day was far advanced, and that clouds were beginning to envelope the summit, they were obliged, with much regret, to give up the project they had so nearly accomplished.—The next attempt was made in September of the year 1784, by M. Bourrit, accompanied by six guides; but he was so affected by the intensity of the cold, when he had very nearly accomplished the object of his journey, that he found it to be a matter of absolute necessity to relinquish any hope of making farther progress.—In the following year, 1785, Marie Coutet and James Balma reached a sheltered place at a very considerable elevation, where they passed the night, and were afterwards proceeding towards the summit of the mountain, when a violent storm of hail obliged them to desist.—On the 13th of the same month, Saussure and Bourrit, with twelve guides, after having advanced about 7808 feet above the level of the sea, were also prevented by a fall of snow from accomplishing their design.—At last, on the 8th of August of the year 1786, Dr Paccard, a physician of Chamouni, accompanied by a guide who was skilled in the passes, and availing himself of the knowledge of the route which had been acquired by the attempts of former travellers, succeeded, after many discouraging accidents, in actually gaining the summit of the mountain.—The travellers remained about half an hour on a spot which had never probably been trod by any human foot, and where the cold was so intense as not only to freeze the provisions and ink which they carried along with them, but also to affect their own bodies with several very unpleasant and dangerous symptoms.

The success of this expedition of Dr Paccard appears to have encouraged Saussure to a second attempt; and, accordingly, on the 14th of August 1787, he succeeded in conveying to the top of the mountain a pretty large assortment of philosophical instruments, and of other conveniencies for the success of the expedition. He remained on the summit of the mountain four hours, enjoying the satisfaction of a most extensive prospect, and diligently employing this favourable opportunity in the performance of several interesting and instructive experiments. At this vast elevation, of something more than 15,000 feet above the level of the sea, respiration was very sensibly affected—a burning thirst seemed almost to parch the skin, and a particular aversion was at the same time felt for every kind of spirituous liquors—the only alleviation which the sensations of the travellers admitted, being that derived from copious and repeated draughts of fresh water. It will be seen in the sequel, that precisely the same effects were experienced in the subsequent ascent which we are about to consider.

The expedition of Col. Beaufoy was the third successful attempt to gain the summit of the mountain. It was undertaken only five days after that of M. Saussure, which we have now related; and to a few extracts from the Colonel's paper, comprehending what seems most remarkable in the journey, we shall now direct the attention of our readers.