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natural history of the environs. In society like 
this, no less pleasant than instructive, and amid 
such scenery, the time passed but too quickly ; 
and I could not but regret the impossibility of my 
spending the three followmg summers here with 
the worthy intendant, who had allotted five years 
in all for the accomplishment of his undertaking. 
His observations must be inestimable; but it was 
thought the whole would hardly be given to the pub- 
lic, as the Sardinian court very justly objected to 
making their French neighbours too well acquainted 
with all the secrets of their natural bulwark. 
“This hospital stands by the high-road side half 
way over the plain, which is at least two miles in 
length; and about the middle, which is its broadest 
part, it may be a mile across. It is entered at each 
extremity by a narrow pass, and surrounded on 
both sides with very lofty mountains capped with 
eternal snow. The plain itself is full of inequalities. 
Towards the northern extremity are two or three 
beautiful lakes, with an island in the principal one, 
clothed with shrubs and rich pasturage. This lake 
empties itself to the south by a small river, whose 
rocky channel often forms considerable cascades of 
great beauty, and is overhung with luxuriant herb- 
age, and shrubberies of Rosa alpina, Mespilus (or 
rather Crategus) Chamemespilus, &c. &e. This 
part of Mount Cenis is seldom visited by travellers; 
but, being within a moderate walk from the post- 
house or the hospital, richly deserves attention. 
On the other side of the rivulet, about the bottom 
of the hills, are some alders, which, being sheltered 
