MT. 39.] TO GEORGE ENGELMANN. 375 



very striking scenery ; wild and majestic, rather than 

 terrible, as its name imports. . . . 



In the afternoon visited the cathedral, one of the 

 finest and oldest in Europe, that is well preserved. 

 Here nearly every part, and all the stained glass, of a 

 most curious kind, is perfectly preserved; and the 

 spire, though not so high as that of Strasburg, is as 

 elaborate and light, as it were of woven stone 

 thread, and even more beautiful. . . . 



Tuesday we rode from Bale to Bienne (fifty-six 

 miles) in a diligence, from eight A. M. to five P. M., 

 through the Minister Thai, the grandest and most pic- 

 turesque scenery of the Jura. 



Wednesday, a ride of three hours along lakes of 

 Bienne and Neuchatel brought us to Neuchatel at 

 eleven o'clock A. M. . . . Professor Godet, 1 who re- 

 ceived me most cordially, took me (with Mr. Coulon) 

 up the Chaumont, 2,500 feet ; but the Alps were ob- 

 scured by clouds, at least the higher Alps, and we had 

 no fine view of them ; otherwise the view was very 

 fine. We returned by the great boulder Pierre a Bot. 

 All asked after Agassiz with much interest. Excur- 

 sions are planned for us when we return. . . . 



Dr. Gray enjoyed the visit to Geneva, where he re- 

 newed his friendship with MM. Alphonse De Candolle 

 and Boissier, accomplishing some useful work, and 

 having pleasant social meetings and excursions. He 

 went to Chamouni . and the Bernese Oberland ; then to 

 Munich, especially to meet again Martius, with whom 

 he had been in constant correspondence, and who 

 made the journey from Tyrol to greet his old friend. 

 Their few days together were greatly enjoyed. 



1 Charles Henry Godet, 1797-1879 ; author of the Flora of the Jura. 



