MOUNTAINS. 
The hygrometer evinced, tliat the air svir- 
ronnding tlie summit contained six times 
less liiimidity tlian tliat ol Geneva, to which 
cause he ascribed an excessive thirst ex- 
perienced liy himself and the rest of the 
party, who were all more or less affected 
by the rarefaction of the air. The balls of 
the electrometer diverged three lines, and 
the electricity was positive on this enor- 
mous mountain ; the most elevated rocks 
of which are granite, where M. de Saussin e 
found at 11,392 feet from the sea, the 
moss-campion in bloom, and still higher 
the lichen sidphurens, and lichen rupestris ; 
and, what was a greater object of astonish- 
ment, two butterflies hovering near the 
summit. 
Such was the result of M. de Saussure’s 
labours, to which we shall add, in the words 
of Mr. Coxe, the following interesting facts 
derived from Friar Francis one of the 
monks resident at the priory at St. Gothard; 
^ About four years ago the Elector of Ba- 
varia sent to the friar several barometers, 
thermometers, and other meteorological in- 
struments, which has enabled him to note 
the variations of the atmosphere, and to 
form a series of observations, of which he 
favoured me with the following result. In 
the most extreme cold he ever experienced 
in these parts, the mercury in Reaumur’s 
thermometer fell to 19 degrees below tlic 
freezing point, or 10 ot Farenheit. In 1784, 
greatest heat on the 13th of September, 
it stood at 13, or 61^ of Farenheit ; greatest 
cold at 17°, or 8|'’ of Fahrenheit. 
M. de Luc’s barometer never 
rose higher than 22 3 1 
Or fell lower than 20 9 9 
It appeared from observations made in 
1784, that the average state of the thermo- 
meter and barometer was as follows : 
Thermometer. 
Niue in the I ^ , of Reaumur, or 28” of Fahrenheit 
morning I “ 
Mid day 0 ®>' 32° 
Nine in the ? ^ — g lines, or 29| 
afternoon ) 
Barometer. 
21 9 2 
21 9 3 
21 9 4 
In the same year it snowed during some 
part of 118 days ; rained, 78 ; cloudy, 293 ; 
tempest, with hail, 12 ; thunder and light- 
ning, 22; rainbow, 4; halo’s round thesnn, 2 ; 
and round the moon, 2; serene days, 87.” 
Some particulars have been collected 
relating to the formation of the Alps, from 
which it appears, that granite constitutes 
their basis ; large portions of this substance 
are scattered in the vallies near them, de- 
tached by diflferent causes, and conveyed 
to very considerable distances by their 
weight ; many dreadful consequences have 
followed the sudden separation of vast 
masses, of which two instances may be men- 
tioned tliat are calculated to excite the 
utmost horror. Plurs, a town containing 
laOO inhabitants, three churches, and situat- 
ed on the Maira, was overwclmed on the 
S5th of August 1618, by the fall of part of 
a mountain, which was suspended in dread- 
ful majesty above it, and in one moment, 
for ever obliterated from the surface of 
the earth. A cloud of dust of impenetrable 
gloom pointed out to the survivors where 
the town had stood, and the cause of its 
ruin, as the enormous fragments of stone 
rushing with inconceivable rapidity through 
the air, were ground into powder where their 
sides met in collision with others ; and had 
any of the miserable residents escaped the 
crush of their habitation, siifibcation must 
have terminated their existence. Houses, 
vineyards, and large trees now cover the 
ruins of Plurs, and bones, and various uten- 
sils are casually discovered in digging. 
On the 2d of September 1806, and at 
five o’clock in the evening, the summit of 
Mount Rosenberg, generally called the 
Knippenoiihl rock, separated from the ad- 
joining parts, and fell to the base, which 
was situated in the valley that divides the 
lake of Zug from Lauwertz. One fragment 
rushed into the lake of the last named 
place, and caused a vast wave, which flow- 
ing impetuously on the opposite shore, wash- 
ed down a considerable number of houses, 
places of worship, and mills. Besides the 
loss thus occasioned by the lake, the earth 
and rocks levelled the villages of Goldau, 
Rothen, Busingen, and Kuzlnck, containing 
in the whole above three liundred habita- 
tions. Upon inquiry it was found that 
1000 persons had lost their lives by this 
sudden disniption of the mountain, which 
might have been less calamitous in its con- 
sequences had the prediction of Genera! 
Pfitter been attended to, who having made 
a model of the Alps, was well acquainted 
with the part under notice, and foresaw 
that it must he detached from its situation 
at no very distant period. It is generally 
