2Si 



RAIN ON THE ALPS. 



of Geneva, Tliere is an Inn or Convent at the 

 Pass, for the convenience of travellers; in sum- 

 mer the road is practicable without much danger ; 

 in winter it is impassable ; in spring and autumn 

 the traveller is often in danger, and sometimes 

 perishes, by the sudden and unexpected falls of 

 snow, by the descent of masses of ice and snow 

 from the sides of the mountains,, or by extreme 

 cold. The height of the Pass above the level 

 of the sea is 2720 yards, which is between two 

 and three times the height of Snowdon. 



The scientific gentlemen of Geneva have very 

 laudably availed themselves of the opportunity 

 which the situation at St. Bernard afforded them, 

 of ascertaining the meteorological phenomena at 

 the latter place. A series of daily observations 

 on the Barometer, Thermometer, Hygrometer, 

 quantity of Rain, &c. at the convent, has 

 been made for the last 10 years; and a sum- 

 mary of the observations was given in the 

 Bibliotheque Universelle for March last, together 

 with those of the like kind made at Geneva 

 for 32 years. \ 



The observations at Geneva do not appear to 

 present any thing of peculiar interest. The 

 annual means and the general means for the 

 period of 32 years are all that are given in the 



