76 THE MONK. 



regularly disciplined soldiers, with cavalry, baggage, and two hun- 

 dred pieces of artillery over this pass, was reserved for the giant 

 genius and master spirit of Napoleon to accomplish. 



It is impossible for any one to form even a faint idea of the mag- 

 nitude of this undertaking, without visiting its scene. The broken 

 nature of the ground, the narrowness of the path, the abrupt pre- 

 cipices, and the deep beds of torrents to be passed over, with the 

 snow, which, at that early season of the year (in April) was many 

 feet thick for a considerable part of the route, would all seem to 

 render the undertaking impracticable ; but an end was to be gained, 

 and this end (if in human power) Napoleon determined should be 

 effected. His design succeeded ; he accomplished the pass, and the 

 field of Marengo bears bloody evidence how completely the ma- 

 noeuvre succeeded. 



During the early ages of Christianity great numbers of devotees, 

 performing pilgrimages, used to pass into Italy by this road ; and it 

 was principally to aid and relieve these absolution-seeking sinners 

 that the Hospice established by Bernard, about the tenth century, 

 was founded. The monks of this monastery are of the order of 

 St. Augustine ; their self-devotion, in thus voluntarily residing, 

 throughout the perpetual winters of this sterile wilderness, for the 

 purpose of rendering assistance to weary travellers of whatever de- 

 scription or country, their active zeal, their benevolent charity, and, 

 above all, their indefatigable exertions in rescuing from destruction 

 the unfortunate wayfarer who may have been overwhelmed by the 

 snow-storm, cannot fail to call for universal gratitude and admira- 

 tion. Formerly the monks were possessed of considerable property, 

 and their funds were amply sufficient to entertain gratuitously all 

 the travellers who took shelter under their hospitable roof ; but the 

 spoliation consequent upon revolutionary changes in the states and 

 empires where their lands lay, has materially depreciated their re- 

 venues ; and at the present time they gladly receive any contribu- 

 tions which generosity or philanthrophy may dictate to the visitor. 



During a short stay in Switzerland, in the year 18 — , I had 

 occasion to visit the Hospice of St. Bernard, and to become perso- 

 nally acquainted with some of its inmates. 



It was on a bright morning in the early part of the month of 

 November — (a month sometimes unjustly libelled ; for, notwith- 

 standing its general gloom, it is not always productive of clouds and 

 despondence alone ; there are occasionally cheering gleams, bright 

 oases, and sunny hours, when nature seems to throw off the veil of 

 mist that has been spread over her beautiful face, and to smile even 



