ASCENT OF MONT BLANC. 61 



scent from the Col de Forclaz to Saint Gervais. In 

 1090 a priory or convent of Benedictines was founded 

 in the valley of Chamonix, which, in 1330, made laws 

 against foreigners, and which, after 1443, received fre- 

 quent visitations from the bishops of Geneva. In the 

 seventeenth century it seems that the glaciers were in 

 process of advancement; and the simple and pious peo- 

 ple of the valley then, and a century afterward re- 

 puted a set of brigands felt a strong anxiety that 

 their aged bishop should exorcise them. As the Bishop, 

 Jean d'Arenton, was very aged, and lived at Annecy, 

 forty miles distant, they grew apprehensive that death 

 might deprive them of his services. They therefore sent 

 a deputation and implored him, in all sincerity, to come 

 and intervene in their behalf. Touched by their simple 

 faith, the aged bishop went and " exorcised and blessed 

 those mountains of ice." The historian states that from 

 that time the glaciers retreated; and a hundred years 

 afterward (1767) had left an interval of a third of an 

 English mile between them and their ancient limits.* 



As the English have always been the most numer- 

 ous frequenters of the valley of Chamonix, so it was a 

 company of Englishmen who first visited the valley in 

 the character of tourists. In 1741, two Englishmen, 

 Windham and Pocoke, with seven compatriots and a 

 large number of servants, set out from Geneva, " armed 

 to the teeth," and supplied with tents and provisions 

 for a long and hostile campaign. After three days they 

 entered the valley, found the inhabitants unexpectedly 

 peaceful, accepted their hospitalities and offers of aid, 

 and ascended the Montanvert and surveyed the great 



* Vie de Jean d'Arenton d'Alex, Lyons, 1767. 



