The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-02 00:00:00

MEETING OF PROPRIETORS.

An adjourned special meeting of the proprietors of
this Company was held at the Hall of Commerce, Thread-
needle-street, on Saturday, parsuant to a resolution to
that effect agreed to at the last meeting.
The CHAIRMAN (P. Butler, Esq., M.P.) said, that as
a quorum was present he, as Chairman, would call on
the Secretary to read the notice convening the meeting,
as well as the original motion, and the resolution read
at the last meeting, to the effect that the meeting having
heard the statement of the Chairman, made at that meet-
ing, with respect to the various plans and extensions, do
approve of the same, aid authorise their directors to
take the necessary steps to carry the same into effect in
the ensuing session of Parliament, to abandon any such
scheme in case it should hereafter appear expedient to
do so. It also proposed to empower the directors to
oppose any railway which they might consider would
compete with, or be in opposition to, their line.
The SECRETARY having read them,
The CHAIRMAN said that the meeting which had
taken place so recently, the discussion which ensued
there, as well as the terms of the resolution just read,
and which would be submitted to them for their ap-
proval, rendered it unnecessary for him to occupy their i
time by any observations. He would merely state n
general terms that all that was asked from the share-
hulders was to authorise them (the directors) to pro-
ceed with their arrangements with the Carlow and Kil-
kenny line, on terms which they would submit to
another meeting, convened for the purpose. They also
asked for general powers; and he did think that it was
not presumptuous in him, as the Chairman of the Board,
to say that there was a perfect confidence that they
interests
of exercise their powers beneficially for the
of the Company. If they should have to take any steps
against those who were opposed to them, a meeting of
the shareholders would be called for that purpose.—
(Hear, hear.) Nothing remained for him to add, but
that it would be for the interest of the Water-
ford and Kilkenny Company to let the re-
solution pass. He was sorry that the meeting
was not larger, but that seemed to indi-
cate confidence in the directors. Any question that
should be put would be satisfactorily answered by the
Secretary and other. officers of the Company present.
Mr. TITE said it was incumbent on him to take some
part in the discussion there that day, in consequence of
what had fallen from him at their last meeting. Since
then he had made some inquiries in Ireland, and had
obtained information from the worthy Chairman,
but still the opinion he expressed at the
preceding meeting was unchanged. He had no
doubt that their line was an excellent one, and
all that was required was to secure the means necessary
to carry it out.—(flear.) There was in Ireland, as well
as in England, a spirit of reckless speculation, which he
hoped would not operate on their Company. He must
repeat what he had said about the wooden rail, and he
trusted that the directors would consider it in the same
light that ho did, and substitute the iron rail. He would
not, however, press the point, and would conclude by
suggesting that in the resolution, instead of the ensuing,
they should say the present, session.
Mr. HULSE proposed the resolution in the amended
form.

Mr. RICHARDSON said he felt great pleasure in second
ing that resolution.

-After a short discussion the resolution was put by
the Chairman and unanimously agreed to.
A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman fur
the clear statement he had made to the meeting, after
which the meeting separated.

ASCENT OF THE WETTERHORN,
The journals of Berne and Zurich recently announced,
that the central peak of the Wetterhorn, one of the
highest points of the Bernese Oberland (highlands),
had been ascended by a young Englishman, the son of
Dr. Speer, an ascent hitherto unaccomplished, and by
no means devoid of dangers and difficulties. We
(Atheneum) have much pleasure in being able to afford
our readers the following personal narrative of this bold
and hazardous enterprise :
" The valley of the Grindelwald, situated in the heart
of the Bernese Oberland, may, without any doubt, be
regarded as the formidable rival of that famous locality,
upon which the immense masses of the monarch of all
European mountains raise their gigantic forms. Although
the valley of the Grindelwald may have no reason to
boast in the presence of Mont Blanc, it is, nevertheless,
the locality around which the giants of the Alps are as-
sembled as in concert.
" This valley is bound, on the south, by three moun-
tains, the highest of the whole chain, with the exception
of Finsteraarhorn ; on the right, by the Bigger, or
Great Giant ;' in its centre are situated the Mitten-
berg ; and, on its left, the three summits of the Wetter-
horn' (Weather Peak). The first of the three, the
Bigger, is 12,000 feet in height, the second 13,291 feet,
and the last 13,184 feet above the level of the sea. Seen
from the village of Grindelwald, they appear like a won-
derful succession of rocks, raising their lofty crests,
almost perpendicularly, to an elevation of several thou-
sand feet. These immense black masses of mountain
are crowned with plains of snow and ice, which are over-
topped by the peaks themselves ; whilst the two seas of
ice, known by the appellation of lower and higher gla-
ciers of Grindelwald, scintillate at the boundary of the
pasture lands, and in the wide intermediate valleys which
separate the three mountains. Until late years, it was
generally thought, in the vicinity, that these summits
were inaccessible ; and yet, experience had proved the
contrary, as regards one of them, the Shreckhorn, or
"Terrorpeak,' which had been ascended by three Swiss
naturalists and their guides, after innumerable difficul-
ties and dangers. They had left there an indisputable
proof of their appearance, by planting a flag, that I was
at length able to discern, by the aid of a telescope. This
exploit is not yet believed amongst the guides and the
chamois-hunters of the Grindelwald.
" This summit, until then unascended, of the great
peak of the Wetterhorn, was, nevertheless, an object
of ambition to me for several months ; but, it was only
on my arrival at Interlacken, that I set to work for the
purpose of obtaining information as to the possibility of
my enterprise. Of the guides who dwelt in the place,
only two were good mountaineers, and I learned from
one of these, that all the attempts to ascend the Wet-
terhorn, from Grindewald, had been vain ; and that the
only possible plan was to ascend to Grimsel, situated at
an elevation of 6,570 feet up the southern inclination
of the great chain, where wsight find the most in-
trepid and adventurous mountaineers of the Bernese
Oberland, the men by whom the invincible Jungfrau was
happily conquered some years ago. Acting, therefore,
upon the advice of this guide, whom I immediately
engaged, we set out from Interlacken, on Thursday, the
14th of July, at six o'clock in the morninee and ar-
rived at Grindewald, at ten o'clock. 1 had then every
opportunity of satisfying myself respecting the informa-
tion I had obtained with regard to the guide. I found
it exact in every particular. We consequently left
Grindewald, the following morning, advancing
through the great Schiedeck, passing at the feet of the
glaciers of Schwartz wald and Rosenlani, and arrived at
Meringen, at eight o'clock at night. We again quitted
this place, at an early hour on the following morning,
continuing our ascent above the valley of the Aar, pass-
ing through the villages of Im, Grand, Guttanein, arid
by the celebrated cascade of Aar, to Handeck. Since
our departure from Meringen, we had been constantly
mounting, as was shown by the large heaps of snow,
and the numerous avalanches which- we found on our
passage, and which retarded our progress disagreeably
enough.
" The vestiges of vegetation sensibly diminished in
proportion as we approached Grimsel; the Alpine rose,
alone, flourished in those wild regions, whilst immense
fallen rocks, a few blackened pines, and the roaring o
innumerable mountain torrents bore a melancholy testi-
mony to the unbridled fury of the various elements by
which we were surrounded. On our arrival at Grimsel,
a council of war was held between the host (an old and
skilful mountaineer), three of my guides, and myself;
upon the means to be employed, as well as the possible
results of our enterprise. It terminated favourably.
Two of the most courageous guides, I. lann, and Gas.
pard Alphanalph, consented to accompany me, and, us
both had sealed the summit of the Jungfrau, I imme-
diately reposed the utmost confidence in them, and left
them in the company of my first guide, to make
preparations for our expedition. I retired to rest
early, aware that we should pass the following
night upon the glacier of the Aar, a very
unfavourable place for repose. Next day the
sun rose is uncloueed majesty, and I found my three
mountaineers completely accoutred, armed with hat-
chets, cords, cramp-irons long •tieks terminating with
iron hooks, blue veils, &c.,
two days, and thetg which,
forgetting' provisions for
testimony to the triumph o, as we hoped, would bear
Grimsel, our path led us ouri expedition. On leavingfall
the midst of • en
rocks, above a wild valley, henutnod
the left by the
Leidelhorn, and on the right
isbeydJuocnhliberg and the
Broniberg. This valley, which is 7,000 feet above
the level of the sea, seemed gradually to enlarge, and we
perceived its further extremity closedy n each side by a
wall of ice, raising itself perpendicularly tot a height of
of
200 or 300 feet ; this was the extremity
the glacier of
the Aar. When we had attained the summit of this wall
by scaling the rocks which bordered it, we
perceived this
vast glacier, stretched out before us for a space of
several
miles, encompassed by ti e gigantic peaks of Finsteraar
horn, the Schreckhorn, the Oberaarhorn, the Vischer:
horn, and the Lantenraarhorn ; the first raising itself to
a height of 14,000 feet, and the others varying from
11,000 to 13,000 feet above the level of the sea.
" We reached the pure and shining surface of the
glacier itse • lf, which we found covered on all sides with
with another, the greater portion
crevices parallel one
being filled with snow; we
took all the necessary pre-
caetions, by sounding them with grappling-irons, bet, re
intruitii g our bodies to so frail and treacherous a sup-
por. t Advancing
in this manner along the glacier for
hut opposite, erected
three hours, vve arrive at the little.
h. •
him to pursue further
for M. Agassiz, to encourage
the
-
experiments upon the increase and the progress of
glaciers. This hut, situate 3,000 feet above the level of
the ice, is almost entirely sheltered from the fall of
avalanches, and the effects of the hurricanes and snow-
storms, to which these elevated regions are exposed.
The sun was gradually disappearing beneath the horizon;
the innumerable peaks and glaciers were illumined by
his
last
rays in such a manner that the entire chain of
mountains presented the appearance of a shining stripe.
This magnificent spectacle suddenly disappeared, and
every object resumed its pale blue tint in proportion as
tshad night concealed them frem our sight; we
soon saw nothing but the
white line of the least remote
Peaks. We then endeavoured to taste a few hours'
repose, taking all the requisite precautions to e prot et
ourselves against the intense cold, in Which
we only partially succeeded. Sleep care _ , however,
e• but tardily;
the novelty of the situation was too exciting.
" Towards midnight, several enormous avalanches
fell on the opposite side of the glacier, with a roar re-
sembling the most violent explosion of thunder ; this was

sufficient to banish all ideas of sleep, and we were soon
on foot, diligently preparing for the seventeen hours of
consecutive ascent which we had to make upon the ice
and the snow. The first difficulty to be surmounted was
the descent on to the glacier, into the crevices of which,
seeing how insecure it was, we found it necessary to
descend. We were thus placed in the bottom, around
the three sides of which walls of ice raised themselves
almost perpendicularly. It was necessary that we should
attain the submit of these walls in order to emerge from
our chilly and frightful dungeon. lann, our head guide,
began to cut out steps in the ice, so that, at the end of a
brief space of time, we were extricated from our retreat,
and out of danger, upon the glacier of Lanteraer, at its
junction with that of Finsteraer ;—the first descends
from the Schreckhorn and the neck of the Lanteraer,
and the second from the Finsteraerhorn and the peaks
adjacent.
" Our course through the glaciers was then directed
towards the Abschwung, along the base of which weproceeded cautiously, the ice being very slippery at this
early hour. The crevices were sounded, and those, that
were half opened avoided as much us possible. These
last, at an elevation of 9,000 feet, almost entirely dis-
appeared, and the surface of the glacier appeared
covered, for a distance of some miles, with a thick
bed of untouched and unbroken snow, whilst before
us, and at a distance of three hours' walk, the neck
of Lanteraar raised itself 1,000 feet in height,
hitherto deemed inaccessible. Its brilliant white
crest, marked in bold relief against a deep blue sky,
made us believe that it was close at hand. We soon
perceived, however, our want of skill in calculating
distances in regions, where the vast extent of the ob-
jects, combined with the peculiar light reflected by the
snow and the glaciers, confounded every one of our en-
deavours. We continued for several hours to climb up
long slopes of snow, burying ourselves knee-deep at
each step, and yet the distance did not appear to dimi-
nish. At length we reached the first ridge of those cre-
vices that are usually found at the foot of the most rapid
descents. In the midst of these crevices it was neces-
sary
to advance with the greatest caution ; a great num-
ber of them touch each other. We thus proceeded
through thie labyrinth of frightful blueish gulfs to the
foot of the formidable neck of Lanteraar, which rose al-
most perpendicularly far above our heads for several
hundred feet, whilst upon its slope, we perceived a mass
of suspended snow which seemed to threaten us from
afar ; for we could not find a more formidable barrier.
It was necessary, however, to surmount it, and the ques-
tion was, how to do so ?
" At our feet was a deep precipice on the opposite
side of which the snow wall rose abruptly, not leaving
the smallest space for the feet. Notwithstanding this,
our chief guide succeeded in piercing in this wall, by
means of his long Alpine stick, a hole, into which we
could leap, without much danger of falling in the half-
open precipice which gaped beneath us. He crossed the
first, and held out his stick to assist the next corner. I
seized the friendly aid thus offered to me, and took
the fatal leap ; but the snow gave way under me, and
I remained suspended above the abyss, grappling, with
my utmost strength, the pole which had been stretched
out to me. I was immediately rescued from this peril-
ous position, and, the other guides having passed with-
out accident, we found ourselves leaning our backs
against the snow wall which forms the southern aspect
of the neck. We commenced our ascent with care, the
first guide having been relieved by the second, who,
hatchet in hand, cut out in the snow holes into which
we could place our feet and hands. The steepness of
the neck was such that the bending of the body forward,
which is necessitated by all ascents, placed our breasts
and faces in complete contact with the snow, whose ex-
cessive glare very much fatigued our sight, in spite of
the blue spectacles which we wore. In this critical
position, our ascending progress became slower, the
advance of the foot, from one step to another, being an
important matter ; for one single slip—the slightest
inclination backwards, or even the least dizziness, must
inevitably have proved fatal to one of us. Neverthe-
less, thanks to the efforts of the hardy mountain-
eers, the summit of the neck was at length attained,
five hours after our departure from the encampment of
the previous night. During this time, the field of our
view had been necessarily limited, by the interposition
of the neck of Lanteraar ; but, its summit once attained,
we were able to contemplate a great portion of Switzer •
land, extended on all sides, at an awful depth beneath
our feet ; whilst on every side rose the summits of those
gigantic barriers which bar the valley of Griudewald.
On our left were the Great and Little Schreckhorn, and
Mestemberg; and on the right the object of our am-
bition, the three peaks of the Wetterhorn, the Wetter-
horn itself, the Mittalhorn, and the Rosenhorn ; be-
neath us were spread out the plains of snow which de-
scend from those summits, and crown the higher glacier
of Grindewald.
" It was then deemed necessary to descend the slope,
on the opposite side of the neck which we had just
climbed, before arriving at the foot of the great peak,
which appeared to rise near us, to a height of 2,150 feet
above the platform of snow, upon which we stood, and
which was, itself, at an elevation of 10,000 feet. We,
therefore, commenced our descent, which, although not
so dangerous as our former ascent, nevertheless, de-
manded a greater exertion of strength. We had thus,
constantly, before our eyes, the precipices of snow and
ice, closely attached to numerous crevices. The chief
point depended upon the ropes and hatchets, and the
descent was effected without accident; after which,
we once more ascended successive slopes of snow,
occasionally proceeding, with much difficulty, in
the midst of the half-opened crevices, which
presented the appearance of a deep azure. Our
course was directed towards the base of the central
peak, known by the name of Mittalhorn, which then
rose over our heads like a vast pyramid of ice and snow.
In my eyes, it was so impossible to climb it, that I ven-
tured to ask the guides if they hoped to reach its
summit? They replied, that they felt sure of it. I
was, therefore, reassured, believing that I was in excel-
lent company for this work. The south-eastern side of
the peak seeming, from all appearances, to be the most
practicable, we began the difficult task of climbing the
virgin mountain. The ascent in itself resembled that of
the peak of Lanteraar, but it lasted much longer. The
surface of the snow and ice was much more compact,
and rendered it necessary for us to widen, with our feet,
the spaces cut out with the hatchet, in order
to facilitate their change of position. We
mounted, therefore, but slowly, placing our
hands in the holes cut above our heads, by the
the guide who took the lead, gradually inserting the
foot in the last aperture, and the body completely sink-
ing into the snow at each step. In this disagreeable
position, we had constantly before our eyes the vast pre-
cipices of ice which lay extended beneath us ; and this
sight cherished in our minds the consolatory idea, that
one little false step might effect the destruction of the
whole party ! This might very easily have happened,
glued, as we were, one to another. We had remained
three hours upon the peak, and we were assured by the
guide, that in another hour, if no accident intervened,
we should have reached the summit. 'We, therefore,
prepared our flag, and, after having snatched a few mi-
nutes' repose, whilst it was being rolled round the flag-
staff, placing ourselves with our backs against the snow,
we then advanced with more ardour, the guide making
the mountains reverberate with the sounds of his na-
tional songs ; whilst the greatest gaiety animated the
whole par ty, et th., prospect of so propitious a result.
The a hire and n riant summit of the peak then ap-
pease iriecliatelyov, r oar heads."
Here, baviiig- brought our travellers to the long
f goal, "c must allow them to pause and take
hr. al !, • ore ri iol,ring an account of the sublime and
splendid p “-p,•ct which immediately astounded their
sight.

" We had tti,, attained an elevation of 10,154 feet,
after a continual asc,,,t of three days, from the level of
the plain. During this time, we had been too much oc-
cupied in surmounting the obstacles which we had en-
couoterod in our progress, to be able to contemplate
with attention, the wonderful panorama, the extent of
which was enlarged every instant. Once on the summit
of the peak, we had an opportunity of examining the
relative position of the surrounding peaks. The greater
portion seemed to extend far beneath ns. On the north,
we perceived the Faulhorn and the chain of monntains
which borders the lake of Brienne ; and, behind them,
the pass of 13runig ; then the lakes of Lungerne and
Lucerne, on the banks of which rose the Righin and
Mount Pilate, whose summits, the glory of so many
cockney tourists, appeared to us like molehills ! On i
the east, the eyes wandered over the indefinite chain of
mountain-peaks.
" On looking towards the south, we perceived, on
that side, the two monarchs of the Bernese Alps, raising
their heads side by side—viz , the Rosenlani and the
Berglistock. Separated from them by the neck of Lan-
teraar, we descried the red Schreckhorn, very properly
called the Peak of Terror,' whilst the last of the groups,
the Finsteraarhorn, appeared to overtop its companions.
On the right of these two peaks was seen the brilliant
Vischerhorner, the nearest of all, beyond which we dis
covered the three rival peaks, the Eiger, the Monch, and
the Jungfrau, rising together to a heig,nt of more than
12,000 feet. At the base of these gigantic mountains,
lay the Wengern of the Alps, which looked like a mere
undulation, whilst we could scarcely distinguish, far
beneath us, the village of Grinderwald, and the river of
Lutchinen, winding like a silver thread in the midst of
the valley.
" On all sides of the peak, upon which we were sta-
tioned (and on the summit of which twelve persons could
hardly find room), we had before our eyes vast and pro-
found precipices, at the foot of which were stretched
the plains of snow, and the numerous glaciers, situated
still lower down. On the left were observed the higher
glaciers of Grinderwald, and those of Lanteraar ; and
on the right, those of Gauti, Reufen, and Rosenlani,
and E n
reel
shool ryned tr
above which rose the peaks of Wellborn, Lusenhorn,
ha
'irilag gWe
cast
geeedY
tgrlyanacneds
roenachthitshesiudnee,
xtph gui (ries
gion of the Rosenlani. Wo had been about rtessd'ente):
.to
o
minutes upon the summit, expose;]
although in
to a violent
ahren-
tglamleplaoinf thewind
he r m andom taenr a:trtit'
gu.dieonf
heit's scale) during the night The
commencedg ourusaear-
ance of some nebulous clouds in the horizon aavpep
forewarning, and we consequently
de-
scent of the peak, after having firmly fixed our flag,
taking the opposite side to that by which we had as-
cended, in order to reach the plains of snow which sur-
mount the great glacier of Rosenlani. Seeing the steep.
ness of the slope, we deemed it necessary to sit down and
to slide over the snow, directing our course by means of

our clamp irons.
" In this manner we descended to the surface of the
plateau with the greatest rapidity. There again we
had need of many precautions, the greater portion of the
crevices being covered with a thin bed of freshly-fallen
show, incapable of supporting the weight of a human
body.
" After having crossed the plateau, we arrived at the
foot of the Rosenhorn. This is an elevated peak, situate
at the junction of the glaciers of Rosenhali and Reufen,
which,
o_ at this spot, is confounded with the great slope
snow descending from the Wretterhorn. This region