prevalent Disorders, $c 9 with Volcanic Emanations. 451 



" Mr. Clarke having noticed (VIII. 130.) that extraordinary 

 storms and inundations had occurred in Switzerland in 1817 

 and 1834, on Aug. 27. (and no one who was not in the midst 

 of the last, can form any idea of it), I can add another in- 

 stance of that being a day marked by the Fates, at least the 

 dawn of it. Whether or not he may be able to connect the 

 circumstance with the hurricane at Nevis, on Aug. 17. 1827 

 (VIII. 25.), I cannot judge. 



" After a good spell on the Alps of Piedmont, I had worked 

 my way back into the Valais, and promised myself a holiday 

 on Aug. 25. 1827. This is occasionally necessary, not only 

 to repose your aching bones, but to arrange your booty, and, 

 by consigning to the care of the postmaster all such portions 

 as may be in a state for travelling without injury, to lighten 

 your knapsack, in the hope of soon charging it again with a 

 fresh harvest. While employed in this pleasant occupation, 

 near an open window, through which was seen a sky promising 

 a long continuance of fine weather, I felt a sudden puff too 

 strongly indicative of a change to be mistaken : in a few mi- 

 nutes my half-formed bundle was hasily tied up for the post, 

 and, the remaining plants being strapped on my knapsack, I 

 was soon again en route with a light heart, and no other regret 

 than what arose from the impossibility of crossing the Alps 

 on the same day. Next morning, the 26th, at the earliest 

 dawn, I was but too happy to find that all continued fair; and 

 I hoped for the best, as unfavourable changes seldom occur 

 during the first few hours after sunrise. Starting for the 

 Grimsel, I contrived as well as possible to keep one eye on 

 the plants, and the other on the opposite chain of mountains ; 

 looking out for some malignant tuft of cloud, like a single 

 black sheep in the middle of Salisbury Plain. On arriving 

 at the Hospice, after five or six hours' good exercise, they 

 thought me joking when I declared my intention of proceed- 

 ing immediately onward in order to avoid the coming storm ; 

 as no change had been noticed in the atmosphere, and not a 

 speck was visible in the sky. After a slight rest, I continued 

 my course ; and an hour and a half had scarcely brought me 

 to the Handeck, when I saw that the part from which I had 

 just descended was exposed to a raging hurricane, and that 

 all was white with newly fallen snow. Away I went, and 

 away came the storm, sweeping down the valley after me. I 

 beat it as far as Hintere Urweid, where it pounced upon me 

 with a vengeance : all danger was, however, past, as I was 

 some leagues too low down to be exposed to any thing worse 

 than a drenching rain. During the night which followed, the 

 snow continued to fall in the elevated regions, and on the 



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