DISCOURS PRtiLIMINAIRE, ETC. 291 



tunities that result from all these causes leave behind them bitter 

 regrets, and may even compel him to retrace his steps. But if from 

 time to time he throws a glance at his agenda, he brings back to his 

 recollection all the inquiries which he ought to be occupied with. My 

 list of agenda, limited at first, became enlarged and improved in pro- 

 portion to the ideas that I had acquired. I propose to publish it in 

 my third volume ; it may be of use even to travellers who, without 

 being experts in research, desire to bring back from their travels some 

 notes useful for science. I shall add to these agenda directions for 

 those who propose to undertake a journey among high mountains, 

 and some hints as to the mistakes into which unskilled observers may 

 most easily fall. 1 



Despite all the precautions I take to forget nothing when, in the 

 quiet of my study, I meditate afresh on the objects I have observed 

 during my travels, doubts often arise in my mind which I feel I can 

 only remove by new observations and fresh journeys. It is these 

 doubts, always recurring, which have delayed till now the publica- 

 tion of this work, and which compel me to limit myself to the observa- 

 tions I have made in the last four or five years ; those anterior to this 

 date not seeming to me sufficiently complete to be submitted to the 

 eyes of the public. Even these I offer only with extreme diffidence, 

 persuaded that men of science who see after me objects I have described 

 will discover many things which have escaped my examination. . . . 



As to my style, I shall make no apology I know its faults ; but 

 more accustomed to climb rocks than to turn and polish phrases, my 

 only object has been to describe clearly what I have seen and felt. 

 If my descriptions give my readers some part of the pleasure I have 

 had myself in my travels above all, if they serve to incite in some 

 of them a desire to study and to advance a science in the progress 

 of which I take an eager interest, I shall be well pleased and well 

 rewarded for my exertions. 28th November 1779. 



[The conclusion of the Preface consists mainly of an epitome of 

 the Voyages and references to its maps and illustrations.] 



GENERAL VIEW OF THE ALPS BETWEEN TYROL AND 

 THE MEDITERRANEAN 2 



I HAVE given in these Travels at the end of each crossing of the 

 Alps a general sketch of the character of the mountains and of the 

 structure they present in each of the passes traversed. I must now 

 furnish a general sketch of the whole range. 



1 The agenda here promised were issued in the fourth volume of the Voyages, 

 prefaced by the note that follows here. 

 ^J Voyages, vol. iv. 2300, 2303. 



