382 Capt, UmirelVs Ascent to the Summit of Mont Blanc. [May, 

 While going along, I could not help fancying that a large 

 portion, or the whole, of the stupendous compact body of snow 

 from the Grand Plateau downwards might be continually and 

 progressively descending. The disposition of the mass, and the 

 situation of the chasms always lying where the inclination is 

 considerable, with the general appearance of the whole, sug- 

 gested the idea. This is, however, but a mere conjecture, and 

 even were it otherwise, it is not ascertainable, as a long series of 

 years, perhaps ages, must pass by before the part now upper- 

 most could find its way into the plains. The cold at the Grand 

 Mulet was very severe during the night, and we were very 

 poorly skreened from it by the shght covering wliich, from the 

 rock on one side to the precipice on the other, we had hung 

 obliquely over us. 



At five, a.m. on the 12th, we set off for Chamouny, the path 

 being too dangerous to make the attempt till perfect day-light. 

 Our passage was impeded by a tremendous avalanche, which 

 had fallen upon the spot, which, as I stated, it seemed to threaten 

 as we ascended from the glaciers at the foot of the Aiguille du 

 Midi. It covered an extent of more than a quarter of a mile, 

 and we were full half an hour in traversing it. It was nine 

 o'clock before we reached the " dernier gazon.'' My eyes had 

 now become much inflamed,* as 1 had used little or no precau- 

 tion to defend them against the reaction of the sun from the 

 glare of white around me, the scene being too extraordinary to 

 be viewed even through the preservative of green crape, or any 

 other medium, and I scarcely recollect any thing more painful 

 than the first flash of the sun upon them as we descended. At 

 half-past 10, we stopped at the Chalet, where we had refreshed 

 ourselves two days before ; and here the thermometer was 65°. 

 At half-past 11, we reached the bottom of the mountain, and at 

 noon arrived at the Prieure. The heat in the valley appeared 

 intolerable to us, though only 72°. 



On the morning of the 16th, the affection in ray eyes having 

 ceased, I crossed, with my old guide Couttet, over the Tete 

 Noire to Martigny, and thence by Bex, Chillon, Vevay, &c. to 



Lausanne, where I arranged my notes, and sent to a 



little account, which you will here have more at length. I fear, 

 however, that you will fancy it unreasonably extended, and 

 wonder why any one should take so much pains to so little pur- 

 pose, and without any scientific result ; nevertheless, as the 

 attempt succeeded, I consider myself amply compensated for all 

 the dangers attending it ; for I wished to contemplate Nature ia 

 /her mightiest works — to behold the clouds from a region above 



• Having accidentally met Capt. U. shortly after his descent, and witnessed what he 

 has stated, I cannot too strongly recommend the adoption of those precautions on similar 

 occasions which he neglected to observe. — £diL 



