2 "i Account of a journey to the 
Vallais and the south side of the Lake before arriving at 
Geneva. We had scarcely finished with the curiosities of 
the place, when my friend and fellow-traveller, Mr. W. 
Howard, of Baltimore, proposed a visit to the Vale of Cha- 
mouny. 
This delightful valley, the most elevated in Europe, and 
almost separated from the world, lies 18 leagues S. E. of 
Geneva—it is 5 leagues long, and 1-2 a league broad, and 
is covered during the few months of summer, with the most 
luxuriant vegetation. To the North, rises the chain of Red 
Needles (Aiquilles Rouges ;) to the South the gigantic mass 
of Mount Blanc; to the N. E. isthe Col de Balme; and to 
the S. W. the mountains of Lacha and of Vaudagne. The 
river Arve, joined by Arvieron, that gushes impetuously 
from beneath the glacier des Bois, flows rapidly through the 
length ofthe vale; and receives the tributary streams of the 
glaciers that increase its size only to augment the volume of 
the Rhone, into which it pours its accumulated waters. The 
beauty of the vale, the fertility of its soil, the innocence and 
simplicity of its habitants, and the simgularity of the land- 
scape, in which mountains of ice alternate with fields of 
flowers, have long drawn the attention of Travellers. Each 
glacier, each needle, each mountain forms a distinet curi- 
osity, and a whole season might pass pleasantly enough m 
contemplating nature in her mildest and in her most chilling 
moods,—for she smiles and frowns alternately on the vale. 
The most interesting object that strikes the attention, 
where every thing is worthy of notice, is Mount Blanc. The 
frozen glaciers, that like feet seem to support its huge mass 
in the air, while its snow capped summit is Jost m the 
heavens, form a singular contrast to the green fields in 
which they rest. Having already visited some of the high- 
est points of the Appennines, in traversing the ridge as it ex- 
tends through the Tuscan, the Roman and the Neapolitan 
States into Sicily, I felt a desire to stand on the lofty mount 
before me, and mentioned it to my companion. The diffi- 
culty of the undertaking, the many failures, and the small 
number of those who have succeeded, seemed at first very 
discouraging—but we resolved upon the attempt and sent 
out for guides. These it was not difficult to procure; for 
_ as the inhabitants considered it a mark of courage and per- 
severance, it is ever thought an honour to have been on the 
