164 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



weigh less than fourteen tons, as it contains 

 about 189 cubic feet of marble. The removal 

 of this huge stone, with the very slender means 

 by which it was accomplished, is a striking in- 

 stance of what labour can effect, by unremitted 

 perseverance. 



In the winter which followed the last inun- 

 dation, his wife observed steam constantly rising 

 from the opposite bank of the river, and, on 

 going to the spot, she found a considerable spring 

 of hot water, which being examined, and found 

 to be mineral, baths were established there. 

 Mr. Bakewell adds, that being desirous that this 

 industrious miller should derive some advantage 

 from his wife's discovery, he recommended his 

 keeping mules to let out to the bathers, and cows 

 to supply them with milk, during the season. 

 With these suggestions he was much pleased, 

 and should he adopt them, it will be equally ad- 

 vantageous to visiters at the baths as to himself, 

 as there was neither horse nor mule to be hired in 

 the place ; and in the summer months, as all 

 the cattle are pastured in the mountains, milk 

 can be procured only once or twice a-week. 



Oct. 1st. I have just read such a pretty de- 

 scription of the humming-bird, that I must copy 

 it for Marianne : it is from BufFon, who calls this 

 bird I'Oiseau Mouche. *' Of all animated beings," 

 he says, " it is the most elegant in form, and the 



