ΤΟ

HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY

ADELAIDE

QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

&c. &c. &c.

THESE VOLUMES

BY PERMISSION

ARE

MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.

TO THE READER.

THE following Work was undertaken at the Author's suggestion, founded on an opinion, that some portion of the romantic history of Switzerland, combined with pictorial illustrations of the most striking localities, would produce a work not wholly uninteresting to the public. This plan was acted upon by the Publisher with great spirit and liberality. Mr. Bartlett proceeded to Switzerland in order to furnish the series of Views from Nature, which he completed in the course of last year; and, to this accomplished Artist, and to others by whom he has been so ably seconded, the present Volumes are chiefly indebted for their extensive circulation.

With regard to the text, the Author may be permitted to state, that it is not a compilation or mere letter-press description, composed with express reference to the engravings, but the result of experience obtained in repeated excursions— of which he has here endeavoured to communicate the substance-and intended to present a moral and political, as well as a physical picture of Switzerland. Of the twenty-two Cantons, each has been described with more or less minuteness; but, as it often happens that the most striking natural scenery is not the most celebrated in history, it has been thought necessary, at times, to dwell longer on certain localities than their merely picturesque features might seem to require; and again, to pass lightly over others where the engravings may be

presumed to speak for themselves. Thus, historical scenes omitted by the painter, but yet calculated to make a strong impression on the mind of the reader-either as the ancient battle-fields of liberty, or the arena of illustrious deeds have been detailed with occasional exactitude.

In a word, it has been the Writer's study to invest the subject with fresh interest, and to make it appeal to the intellect while it pleased the eye. Many could have discharged the duty with greater ability, but few, perhaps, with greater diligence, or with a more sincere determination to embody in the narrative a faithful description of those scenes best calculated to convey an important moral.

In conclusion, the Author begs to offer with his own, the hearty acknowledgments of the Artist, to all classes of the reading public, as well as the admirers of the fine arts, for the patronage and approbation with which the undertaking has been so highly honoured. He has also the grateful task of returning, most emphatically, his thanks to the Editors of the numerous periodicals, whose words of encouragement, kindly spoken and in season, have been substituted, in nearly every instance, for the harsher tone of criticism. It is gratifying to add, that the indulgent testimony thus awarded has been liberally responded to by the continental press; and that, in the foreign editions, the Work has met with the same flattering reception as at home.

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
Pp. 188.

SWITZERLAND.-Introduction... Passage of the Jura... Present state, Political and Moral... Frontiers
of Helvetia... La Vattay...The Dóle...First View of the Alps... Descent of the Jura... Scenery of the
Canton de Vaud...The Lake and Mont Blanc
GENEVA.-Sketch of the History, Ancient and Modern... Political Condition... General Statistics...
Society and Manners...Soirées...Charitable Institutions... Natural Advantages of Situation...The
Salève... Geological Notice...The lake of Geneva

GENEVA TO CHAMOUNI.-Valley of the Arve... Bonneville...Cluse... Mont Buet... Valley of
Maglans... Surrounding Scenery of Sallenche... Moonlight Scenes... Sallenche to Chamouni... Baths
of St. Gervais... Lake and Fall of Chède... Valley of Servoz... Fall of an Alp...Mount Grenier...
Chamouni... Mer-de-Glace...Montanvert... Le Caillet...Hopital-de-Blair...Source of the Arveiron
...Glacier of Montanvert... Voûte de Glace...Original Lines on liberating a Chamois
THE GLACIERS.---General Description... Glacier of Bossons...Mr. Bakewell's Theory...Saussure's...
The Granite Rocks on the Salève

Page

17

8-15

15-21
22--24

MONT BLANC.-Height... Saussure's Ascent...Jacques Balmat... Maria de Mont Blanc...Geology of
Mont Blanc... Baths...The Valley of Chamouni...Characteristics of Natives... Hymn by Coleridge 24-32
PASSAGE OF THE TÊTE NOIRE.-Argentiere... Rash Adventurers...Legend... Alpine Cabaret...
Cascade of Barbelle...The Balmarussa...Original Lines

33-38

39-43

48-53

53-70

THE VALLAIS, OR VALLEY OF THE RHONE--General Description... History, Language,
Manners, &c....Entrances to the Vallais...Salt Mines of Bex...Castle St. Maurice... The Pizevache
...Castle of la Bâtia
MARTIGNY.---Deluge in 1818, and heroic Conduct of Miners to lessen its effects... Perforating a
Tunnel in the Ice... Consequences of this Catastrophe... The Maniac Bride... Original Stanzas 43-48
SION.-Approach...Statistical and general Details... Matthieu Skimmir... Sierre... Baths of Leuk...
Cascade near Turtmann... Valley of St. Nicholas... Brieg...Geological Theories...Springs...(Original
Lines)
THE SIMPLON--Description of this celebrated Pass... Dr. Johnson's Route... Galleries... Gondo...
Descent into Italy... Val d'Ossola... Zoological and Botanical Details... Pictet's Apparatus for Mine-
ralogists... Maxims... Directions and Memoranda for Tourists
CANTON OF TESSIN, OR TICINO.---Lago Maggiore... Magadino...Convent of La Madonna del
Sasso... Locarno...Historical Anecdote... Lugano, its Scenery and Resources... The Val Levantine...
First hostility between Swiss and Italians... Battle of Giornico...Statistics and History of the Canton 70-78
THE GRISONS, OR GRAUBÜNDTEN.---Characteristic Traits of the Inhabitants, religious Duties
...Description of Scenery along the Misocco...Cascades... Castle and Valley of Misocco... Vegetable
Productions... Fall of the Moesa...Pass of the Bernardino... Bridge and Gallery... The devoted Hus-
band... Valley of Hinter Rhein... The Lammergheyer... The Chamois... Hinter Rhein... Land of Tell
Route of the Bernardino... The Rhine... Succession of Cataracts... Castle of Bärenburg...Andeer...
Gorge of the Via Mala... Enterprising spirit in constructing Bridges... Tusis... Inundations of the Nola
Village of Reichenau... Tscharner's Institution...Chur, or Coire... Antiquarian, Historical, and
Statistical Particulars... Mineral Springs...Native Character and Political Condition of the Grisons 79-102
PASSES OF THE SPLÜGEN AND ST. GOTHARD.--The Röffla... Village of Splugen... Ava-
lanches...Pass of the Splügen, with Particulars of its Construction...Anecdotes...Marshall Macdonald
and French Army...Anecdotes... Dangers of the Pass...Muleteers... Migratory Birds... Isola...
S. Giacomo...Campodolcino...Cascade of Piannazzo... Plurs, its fearful destruction... Original Par-
ticulars...Environs of Chiavenna... Grottoes... Ruins of Conto... Botany...Soil and Climate 102-121
THE ST. GOTHARD-CANTON OF URI.---Sketch of an Alpine Storm...Effects of the Hurricane
...Chesnut-trees...River Tessin... Gorge of the Platifer.. Faido...Airolo...Ascent of Mount St.
Gothard...Col and Hospice... Effect of sound... Dangers of the Tourmente or Snow-hurricane... Loss
of Lives...Mineral Treasures of this Mountain... Village of Hospital... Wreck of a Pine Forest...
Valley of Ursern... Devil's Bridge on the Reuss... Sanguinary Conflict... Gorge of Schöllenen...
Valley of the Reuss... Pfaffensprung, or Friar's Leap... Village of Amstag...Approach to Altorf...
Origin of the Swiss Confederacy...Tell, Stauffacher, Furst, Arnold
SCHWYZ, ZUG, AND GLARIS.---Tell's Chapel... Brunnen...Approach to Schwyz... Peasantry...
Contentment...the Curate of la Grave... Lake Lowerz... Gersau... Fall of the Rossberg...Destruction
of Goldau...State of Art...Lake of Egeri... Morgarten... Duke Leopold...His Defeat...Abbey of
Einsiedeln... Pilgrims by proxy.. Lake of Zurich... Lachen... Rapperschwyl... Huttens Grab...Storm
Canton of Glaris...Soil and Produce... Scenery beyond Linthal... The Pantenbrücke Valley and
Lake of Clonthal... The Battle of Näfels... The Plot of Wesen...The Serenbach... The Blätliser, or
North Wind... Falls of St. Quenten
151-176
CANTONS OF ST. GALL AND APPENZELL.-Wallenstadt... Baths of Pfeffers... Scenery of the
Tamina...Gorge ..Optical Illusions... Full Description of the Baths... Amusements, Walks, &c....
Analysis of the Waters... The Abbey of Pfeffers...Sources of the Rhine...Agricultural and Manu-
facturing Resources of St. Gall...Conclusion

121-150

176-188

N.B. The above Volume will be found to contain:-Historical Sketches...Statistics Society and
Manners... Education, Literature, and Science... Notes on Climate...Advice to Tourists and Residents...
Mineral and Thermal Waters of the Alps...Their Mineralogy, Botany, and Geology...Biographical and
Characteristic Sketches... Anecdotes and Traditions...Popular Customs and Amusements...Picturesque and
Religious Fêtes...Arts...Agriculture... Produce...Manufactures; with other topics too numerous to be com-
prised in the Index.

... The Poetry interspersed in this Volume, unless where otherwise marked, is original.