304 Ascent of the Jungfrau in 1841, 
versed the glacier of Aletsch and others in its vicinity in all 
directions. The narrative they have published of these expe- 
ditions* states, that after a first unsuccessful attempt, they 
succeeded in reaching the summit of the Jungfrau on the 3d 
of August. 
But it appears that the announcement of this ascent was 
received with much suspicion by the mountaineers, since, in 
the preface to his second journey,t M. Rudolph Meyer him- 
self admits that this was one of the reasons which determined 
them to attempt a second ascent the following year. On the 
first occasion they ascended by the western side, consequently 
in the same direction we followed ; the second time (8th Au- 
gust 1812) they appear to have succeeded in reaching the 
summit by ascending the east side. Unfortunately the work 
of the brothers Meyer is not drawn up in such a manner as 
to inspire confidence in those who are prejudiced against them. 
The account of their journeys has one capital defect, an en- 
tire want of precision ; and a reader must be well predisposed 
to do so before he can recognise the road to the Jungfrau in 
their itineraries. But, on the other hand, it is unquestionable 
that the physiognomy of glaciers may undergo a considerable 
change one year after another; such a route as was perfectly 
practicable thirty years ago, may now no longer exist, and if, 
at present, it be almost impossible to climb to the summit of 
the Jungfrau on the eastern side, it may easily have been 
otherwise in the time of M. Meyer. In such a case, it is best 
to avoid giving a decided judgment; but if my opinion can 
be of any weight, | should say that I am more disposed to be- 
lieve in this double ascent than to doubt it. The principal 
merit of the brothers Meyer consists in the map they have 
published of their journey. 
M. Hugi tried, by various efforts, to ascend the Jungfrau 
* Reise auf den Jungfrau-Gletscher und Esteigung seines Gipfels, von Joh. 
Rudolf Meyer und Hieronymus Meyer aus Aarau, im August-monat 1811 
unternommen. 
1 Reise auf die Eisyebirge des Cantons Bern und Ersteigung ihrer hichsten 
Gipfel im Sommer 1812. This journey, as well as the preceding, appeared, 
in the first instance, in the Miszellen fiir die neueste Weltkunde, drawn up by 
M. Zschokke, 
