254 THE LIFE OF JAMES J). FOItBES. [CHAP. 



proceeded to cross the chain of the* Grand Paradis to 

 Cuorgne, en route for Turin. 



Journal, August 1. 



'. . . I left Cogne with a guide recommended to me 

 by Dr. Grappin, for Ponte. There were four different paths 

 to choose from, and that recommended by Brockedon is 

 the only mule path, I believe, the others passing over 

 glaciers. The one I selected, which is called the Col de 

 la Nuova, is considered the shortest, at least in point of 

 time. I found the glacier part of it by no means difficult, 

 and on the whole the pass resembled the Col de Traversette 

 on Monte Viso : but on the Piedmontese side the descent 

 is most precipitous. The chain of Mont Blanc is finely 

 seen from the summit indeed from several points in the 

 .valley of Cogne ; but in order to see Monte Eosa, I was 

 obliged to climb a rock which rises on the right of the 

 pass, and from this I obtained a fine view : but the 

 northern side of the valley of Cogne conceals too much, 

 and on the whole, judging from Brockedon's description, 

 the view from the Col de Keale must be preferable. . . . 

 After descending to the village of Campiglie, the scenery 

 becomes charming, and so it continues without inter- 

 ruption to Ponte, which is beautifully situated, but the 

 landlady of the inn was drunk, and the inhabitants were 

 disgusting so I went on to Cuorgne, where I found 

 better quarters. My guide, who yesterday had been 

 very compassionate, inviting me to sit down, and advising 

 me not to look over precipices, began to find that I was 

 made of tougher metal than he thought. I don't think 

 I sat down quite enough for him, for he was completely 

 knocked up before we got to Cuorgne. 



1 August 2nd. I left Cuorgne by diligence for Turin. 

 ... As the weather was very hot, I rested after my jour- 

 ney, but in the afternoon I saw Sig. Plana, and found 

 him, as usual in such cases, overwhelmed with official 

 engagements what lost time compared to the petty 

 consequence or the emoluments of an official position ! 

 He spoke of Libri's book on the History of Science as 



