of their intention to depart is to collect all these gentlemen from the neighbourhood, and to give them a grand dinner on board. After this the float is sounded and measured, and their demands upon the owners settled.

On the morning of departure every labourer takes his post, the rowers on their benches, the guides of the leading rafts on theirs, and each boat's crew in its own vessel. The eldest of the valet-masters then makes the tour of the whole float, examines the labourers, passes them in review, and dismisses those who are unfit. He afterwards addresses them in a short speech; recommends regularity and alertnes ; and repeats the terms of their engagement, that each shall have five crowns and a half, besides provisions, for the ordinary voyage; that in case of delay by accident, they shall work three days gratis, but that after that time each shall be paid at the rate of twelve creitzers, about four-pence per day.

After this the labourers have a repast, and then, each being at his post, the pilot, who stands on high near the rudder, takes off his hat and calls out, "Let us all pray." In an instant there is the happy spectacle of all these numbers on their knees, imploring a blessing on their undertaking..

The anchors which were fastened on the shores are now brought on board, the pilot gives a signal, and the rowers put the whole float in motion, while the crews of the several boats ply round it to facilitate the departure.

Dort, in Holland, is the destination of all these floats, the sale of one of which occupies several months, and frequently produces 350,000 florins, or more than 30,0001.

MRS. RADCLIFFE.

SECT. CXXXVII.

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF A JOURNEY TO THE GLACIERES,

IN SAVOY. WRITTEN IN FORM OF A LETTER TO LADY MARY BLAIR. BY J. B. WEBER.

Ye mountains, whose aspiring tops,

With snows on snows, ascend the skies;

And, as the everlasting props

Of heaven's high mansions, proudly rise,
Oft on your hoary heads

I've gather'd in their beds

The flow'rs that spring doth blow,
While thunder rock'd the ground,
And torrents swell'd the sound,
And clouds were seen below.

MADAM,

TO LADY MARY BLAIR.

THE Glacieres of Savoy being one of the most extraordinary parts of our little globe, I think it not altogether useless to give your ladyship a short account of a journey undertaken in those mountains, by Messrs. Coxe, Churchill, Weston, and Weber, from Geneva.

We set out from Geneva the 30th of July 1777, in the morning, and soon came to Chesne, a long village, where a bridge divides this little territory from the dukedom of Savoy. A large plain, diversified with fine cultivated hills, and bordered with high mountains, attracts the wanderer, till he arrives at Bonneville, a little town seated at the foot of the Mole, an exceeding lofty mountain, in the form of a sugar-loaf. There is a large stone bridge of five arches, built upon the Arve,* near this town, from whence we entered a valley bordered with high rocks, shaded with woods.

It opens itself, after four miles walk, and forms a very agreeable plain, intermixed with fine fertile ris

The Arve is a torrent that takes its rise in the ice mountains, and, after a very rapid winding course, of at least 100 miles, dis charges itself into the Rhone, near Geneva. It is a remarkable sight, to see these two rivers How together, for half a mile, without mingling; the Arve keeping its gray, and the Rhone its blue colour.

ings, till one arrives at Cluse, another little town, ten miles from Bonneville.-There is a large rock near this place, which hangs over the road in a tremendous manner, from whence historical tradition says, the Clusians defeated a large body of foreign troops, by hurling down stones upon them; there instances to be met with in the history of

As such zerland. village, is

The road near this place, to the eve through a valley, where the Arve lovite great force. The mountains and rocks, on each side, are very elevated and romantic. The more we asivanced, the more we found the objects diversified by the different forms and structures of the rocks. A very beau tiful cascade rushing down a stupendous mountain attracted our eyes till we arrived at a village about five o'clock, where we took refreshment, and then continued our road to Salenche, having exceeding curious rocks on our left, and the Arve on our right. We stood amazed at the beautiful cascade of Arpennaz, which is a torrent, falling down a mountain five hundred and fifty furlongs in height, between rocks of a muscle-colour. Art is exhausted in the luxury of cities, in order to form a little insignificant fall of water; but here, lavish nature pours her plenteous streams from the top of her rocks, astonishing our sight, far beyond what the hand of art is able to produce. The rocky scene at length spreading on each side, left us in a large oval space, surrounded with corn-fields, pastureland, and every sort of verdure; in the heart of which stands the town of Salenche, where we lay the first night.

The place itself, indeed, is but very indifferent, although the capital of that part of Savoy called Faucigny. The Savoyards, of both sexes, are as healthy, stout, and handsome a race of people as can be seen, and of the strictest integrity; but I can by no means recommend their inns, nor advise those to travel into this country, who cannot put up with some inconveniencies, such as fleas and bugs in their bed-chamber.

They are not accustomed to receive any strangers,

but those whom curiosity leads to the valley of Chamougny.

We here took guides and mules to lead us the next morning to the valley of Chamougny.

We rode sometimes between, and sometimes over rocks, and often crossed several torrents, which came running down from the mountain-tops, covered with

snow.

The Arve, in some places, rushes with impetuosity into a great depth, between lofty rocks, at the bottom of which the eye is sometimes recreated with fine green valleys, cones of mountains, piled one above the other, and feathered with firs to almost the very top, seeming to touch the skies, and bounded at last the vast amphitheatre before us.

We began now to get the first view of the top of mount Blanc, clad in a sheet of frozen snow, almost too white for the eye to behold.

The aspect of this amazing mountain is astonishing; and fills the mind with the sublimest ideas. It is reckoned the highest on the antient continent; being 2391 furlongs and a half in height, above the level of the Mediterranean, according to Mr. De Luc's last combined method of barometrical and geometrical

measure.

One of our guides informed us, he had been one of the twelve, who that summer employed fourteen hours in attempting to go up this tremendous mountain, but were obliged to return, not being able to bear the intense sharpness of the air, or find any farther practicable road through the snow; most of them fell sick at their return.

At two o'clock we arrived at Chamougny, and though we had been continually on the ascent from Salenche, yet we found it exceeding warm in the valley, and were surprised to see such fine fertile lands at the very foot of the Glacieres.

This valley produces all sorts of fruits, and a delicious white honey, which the bees fetch from the salutary flowers of the Alps. The village is but an indif

ferent place; the inn, however, is good, and the landlady agreeable and polite.

We met here with Mr. Bourit (who has published a description of the Glacieres) and two clergymen from Geneva, of my acquaintance, with whom we went up the Montanvert.

Being provided with guides and provision, we proceeded fourteen in number, to climb this terrible rock, about five in the evening, and reached the summit, after a fatiguing and dangerous ascent of three hours and a half.

This rock is quite covered with fir-trees, which we found very serviceable when the stones rolled from under our feet.

Black clouds floated now, big with horror, during our ascent, and rattling thunder bursted at last from the veil of darkness which brooded over the plain, and caused the mountain-top, on which we stood, almost to tremble. Our fears, however, of having a rainy night were soon dispelled, when we saw the weather clear up, without much rain; and now we proceeded, with fresh alacrity, on our steep ascent.

The human mind acquires a degree of strength and ease in its mental operations, in this pure and subtile air: the soul, discharging the weight of that mass of vapours which hang over the body in the plain, seems to participate the purity of the etherial regions where she now is, and can raise itself above the tumultuous passions of mortals, whose habitations, labours, toils and cares, are now left behind.

Our guides, perceiving us desirous of reaching the top, told us we should soon come to the Chateau de Montanvert, which, on our arrival, we found to be a shepherd's cavern, made with large stones. The entrance into it was so low that it was with difficulty we crept in one after another. The sight of the stupendous ice valley, as seen from the top of this mountain, filled our minds with such admiration, as sufficiently repaid the hardship we had undergone.

Having kindled a large fire, with the wood that