52 A CONTINENTAL TOUE. 



period of life. There are here two towns of the same 

 name. The French Brissac is two or three miles from the. 

 river side, so I determined that same evening to depart for 

 the German border. The German town, called Alt-Brissac, 

 is built upon a high and rocky promontory of the river, 

 and presents a formidable aspect, though now in a state 

 of great dilapidation, having been dismantled by an 

 opposite fortress during the French wars. It has still a 

 noble appearance, and forms a fine representative of its 

 mighty country, 



' With gray but leafy walls, where ruin greenly dwells.' 



" At six in the evening I found myself standing by the 

 side of the monarch of European rivers, and a most magni- 

 ficent object it is. Here it is not less than six hundred feet 

 broad, and runs apparently at the rate of nearly seven 

 miles an hour. Immediately opposite the German fortress 

 its waters are confined within two hundred feet of their na- 

 tural bed, and the impetuous flow is prodigious ; it rages past 

 the dark rock which here endeavours to oppose its course, 

 and appears as if rejoiced in avenging this violation of its 

 power on the low willowy isles which are scattered on its 

 bosom. The trees on these islands have suffered from its 

 force, and bend before it, their summits being only a few 

 feet from the ground, and pointing down the stream. 

 Even those on the banks have the same oppressed appear- 

 ance, having probably felt the power of the green despot 



