132 



AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. 



to it, as they journey on through all our well- 

 known " vale of tears." Its now mouldering walls, 

 with here and there a fortress, dismantled by the 

 imperious hand of man, or ruined by the storms of 

 time, tell him too clearly, that they have been 

 strong and mighty in their prime ; but, that now, 

 their hour of warlike glory has passed away ; and 

 that even their hard materials must ere long dis- 

 solve and crumble into pieces, at their own 

 foundations, never to rise again. 



Here, boiling fountains, heated by the hand of 

 nature, have flowed, time out of mind, for the 

 benefit of distressed humanity ; and they will 

 apparently continue in the present course, uninter- 

 rupted to the consummation of all things ; unless 

 some vast commotion in the bowels of mother 

 earth, shall change their stream, or dry it up for 

 ever. 



I stop not here to attempt an analysis of these 

 health-restoring waters. That can be obtained 

 satisfactorily from ancient and modern books, 

 which contain very correct details of their compo- 

 nent parts. In fact, to tell the truth, I have no real 

 science in me. I merely look at art and nature 

 as I pass along ; and I pen down that which gives 

 me most delight. So puny are my pretentions 

 to anything in the shape of science, that I frankly 



