Journey from Vienna. 107 



then we discerned some slight traces of road. The rock of 

 Szintm is an abrupt high and steep precipice, but the ascent 

 is pretty easy from a number of 'Steps, though of an irregular 

 description. The summit is a little plain, pretty level, com- 

 manding a view of the whole country. We descended then in 

 quest of a lake at the bottom, on the banks of which, near 

 a wood, our attendants lighted a great fire, prepared provi- 

 sions, and we encamped for the night. Awaking at intervals, 

 I promenaded the little valley adjacent to the lake. In this 

 solitary scene my sensations were of a truly singular kind. 

 The profound obscurity that pervaded the forests, the expan- 

 sive sheet of still water, the stars reflecting a twinkling light 

 on its surface, produced a beautiful and affecting scene, gra- 

 tifying not only to a, man of taste, but to a philosopher, and 

 such as no poetical similes could do justice to. 



The lake is every where surrounded with mountains of some 

 height, and it receives all their waters. These have a passage 

 through a winding and very narrow valley, with a forge and a 

 flood-gate at the end, to regulate the volume of water. The 

 sides of the mountains are very steep hereabouts, and it proves 

 very fatiguing to scale their summits. They are interrupted 

 by a great number of little valleys, through which it is often 

 difficult to find the road. 



After this excursion we returned to Dluha, and thence to 

 Udva. Next day we set out (the Abbd Este was with me) for 

 another excursion on the mountains of Vihorlet. We had 

 intended dining at Vinna, but entering the chateau of Ormezo, 

 we were so importuned to stop, that we could not resist the 

 invitation. Here we found a numerous company, several being 

 of the most considerable families in Hungary, and I had the 

 pleasure of- being introduced to their acquaintance. The 

 society was excellent, and the dinner party very lively and gay; 

 we to'ok leave, however, proceeding for Nagy Mihaly. The 

 maps which I had of this part of Hungary presented n number 

 of hills, but our road lay wholly over a plain. 



At Nagy Mihaly, we alighted at the chateau of Count Albert 

 Staray, the exterior of which is in the modern style, with 

 every regard to convenience and symmetry. The architect has 

 skilfully availed himself of two ancient towers that had a gloomy 

 appearance, and uniting them by a portico, with a terrace 

 over it, every semblance of antique fortification has disap- 

 peared. The interior is also decorated with a display of taste 

 and elegance that forms a striking contrast to the simplicity 

 that reigns, in general, throughout the dwellings in Hungary. 



From Nagy Mihaly I made an excursion to Vinna, where 

 I had the honour of visiting the Countess Wallenstein. The 



