The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-11 00:00:00

LIT.IZRATU.RE.

The Eagle's Nest in the Valley of Sixt ; a Sum-
mer home among the Alps : together with some
Excursions among the Great Glaciers. By
Alfred Wills, of the Middle Temple, Esq., Bar-
rister-at-Law, Author of " Wanderings among
the High Alps," and one of the Contributors to
" Peaks, Passes, and Glaciers." Longman.
This is an interesting book, which can hardly
fail to attract attention. Notwithstanding the
many books on the subject that have recently ap-
peared, this one has claim to novelty, since it treats
of a place that is not generally visited by travellers.
It is stated that "the Valley of Sixt has been so little
visited that to very many persons who have tra-
velled amongst the Alps its very name and situation
are unknown, yet from Geneva it is easier of access
than the Valley of Chamouni, it may be reached in
one day from Chamouni, or from the Valley of the
Rhone; and its attractions are second to those of no
Alpine valley I have seen." The favourable int
pression that was made on the minds of the visi-
tors may be gathered from the following passage :
"We paid two visits to the valley, the one before,
and the other after, a month's ramble amongst the
greatest and grandest scenery of Savoy and S wit-
zerlani, but the attractions of Sixt remained para-
mount in our minds, even amidst the exciting
scenery of the great glacier world." Among the
curious incidents recorded of the customs of the
people, it is noticeable how the desire of gain
tempts men to risk their lives in the most imminent
manner. The precipices of Mont Rouan are par-
ticularly steep, but they are dotted with innume-
rable patches of grass. The Savoyard peasantry
will venture anywhere in pursuit of this grass, and
the travellers were informed that there was scarcely
a spot along the cliff that was not visited for the
sake of the scanty hay crop. Such feats are most
perilous ; and an anecdote is here told of the fatal
issue of such endeavours. A youth, who was help-
ing his father, suddenly lost his footing, and was
dashed to pieces in an instant. We thus learn that
the fatal pursuit of money is not confined to the
denizens of crowded cities, but that the dwellers in
solitary places share the same infatuation, and dare
the same, ventures. A most peculiar tale is told
relating to the mysterious death of Jaques Bal-
mat, the hero of Mont Blanc, described as " per=
haps the hardiest and most indomitable moun-
taineer that ever drew breath even beneath the
shadow of the Alps." The story of his end is mys-
terious and sad, but of one fact there seems no
doubt, that he met his death amid the scenes where
he had distinguished himself in life, and the reader
will be of opinion that it was meet that the pilgrim
of nature should have found his shroud and sepul-
chre amid the eternal snows, and that his last long
sleep should be among the glaciers. The " Eagle's
Nest" is the name given by the author to a portion
of land he purchased in the valley of Sixt,
the description of which is most charming,
and one feels anxious to behold, if only
for a short time, a spot so fascinating.
There is a long account of the difficulties that had
to be surmounted before possession was gained,
owing to the prejudices of the people, but at last
all was happily concluded. As so often occurs in
human affairs, a sad misfortune occurred to throw a
shade over the bright prospect ; and the writer of
this delightful little work was suddenly deprived
of his wife, to whom he was devotedly attached,
and with whom he had planned his arrangements
at Sixt. Her intelligence was of great service to
him. The sad affliction naturally cast a gloom
over the smiling spot, and the work. begun in oy
was concluded in sorruw. Still a mournful interest
appertains to the scenes once so admired and de-
lighted in, and the thought of the loved and lost
can hallow with the charms of memory the home
that appears so desolate and lonely. There is great
difference in the vegetation of the valley of Sixt,
and almost every other Alpine valley. - " Generally
speaking, but little verdure is to be seen beneath
the thick foliage of a fir wood. Every traveller
who has visited the Montauvert or the Fleque, °.
ascended the Cramont, knows that beneath the fir
woods he generally sees a drab•coloured soil, scarcely
more than dotted with an occasional spot of her-
bage ; but here, in the valley of the Giffre, the
trunks of the fir trees pierce through a tapestry of
the richest and softest green. Mosses and ferns
grow with the utmost vigour and freedom, and
cover every inch of ground not actually occupied
with the boles of the trees. When the sun is shin-
ing brightly, and pierces here and there through
the thick foliage of the wood, it is impossible to
say how beautiful are the effects of the chequered,
light and shade, the alternations of the brightest
emerald and the deepest sea green. As one stand%
above, and gazes down the glades and vistas of the
forest, the aisles and colonnades with which Nature
herself adorns the wayside temples she rears 011,
every hand to the great Author of this beautr
ful universe." Another account of the scenery
is
also well worthy of notice. The Plateau des Fonds if
only a tolerably level piece of pasture land, but
surrounded by scenery of no common grandeur'
" It is placed nearly in the centre of the great ally
phitheatre of precipices which opened on us at the
grassy knoll whence we first caught sight of the
chalets; but it is only from this spot that their Do'
extent can be seen, or their magnificence apPre"
ciated. They stretch in one long dark and frown-
ing wall from north to south-east of the spectator,
attaining their greatest height and presenting the°
wildest aspect about midway between the two eV
tremities of the arc. At its northern end they are
crowned by grass-land so steep as to make elle
wonder that even Alpine sheep and Alpine slier
herds dare to trust themselves upon its slipperY
surface; just above those tremendous crags, as the,
precipices increase in height, however, the strip
verdure diminishes in breadth, and from the middle
of the horse-shoe to its south-eastern point, the hue
of bare rock either stands out sharply against th,e,
sky, or is capped by a glistening patch:of glacier.,
It is difficult in perusing a work like the prese%
to decide which portions are most striking 0
which passages the most pleasing. It is certainly'
a most attractive subject for one's leisure hours. tie
mark the peculiarities and become familiarised with
the splendours of such scenery as is here laid before
us. There is no doubt that this work will induce
many tourists to extend their travels, anal see for
themselves the grandeur and beauty so eloquently
pourtrayed in the exciting and. interesting records
here given. The writer of this work has already'
appeared before the public in other books of travel,
and also he was one of the contributors
glad:
to Passes,butor their
t
renew
to
and tha that ae ol
be
cmieirrasb.„le workmany
readers entitled
will
be
acquaintance with him, and this last produetieuif,
his pen is certainly a success, inasmuch as it laYs
p
fore us an animated account of -a charming
s
The
and whose description is impressively given.
in
style of the work is in every way suitable, and
recommending " The Eagle's Nest" to the peruse,
of all desirous of dwelling on such topics, there cell
be no fear of a disappointing result. It not often s°
much information is afforded in so agreeable
manner as is the case in this delightful little
volume.

ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY.—This society held it°
21st anniversary at the gardens yesterday, Mr. James Hey
wood in the chair. The annual reports from the counc t
auditors, and officers were read, from which it appeared that
the total receipts were somewhat less than last year, bnA
larger than those of 1858. The decrease was attribute"'
solely to the unfavourable weather during this 00°1
but, nevertheless the receipts from the exhibitions 11%
been £5,380 Bs. 6d., against £5,531 17s. received ire,
year; ; the total receipts from all sources this year vre..,To
including the cash in hand brought forward from last ye 44
account, £12,529 18s. 9d., and the payments £9,814
5d., leaving £2,715 14s. 4d. balance in hand. Severa
and l n
0e
ev".,
works had been completed during the past year, e
of the old debenture debts paid off. 103 new Fellows bit £6 ,
joined the Society, making the number now on the boolce,
2,294, and 131,708 persons had visited the gardens th/,
season. Thanks were voted to his Reyal Highness, the
President, the members of Council, and the officers.
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—At the Liverpool Police"
court yesterday, before Mr. Raffles,.an unfortunate female?
named Mary Barns, was charged with stealing bills of e
was pa„ing along Lime-street to an herle,;
change to the amount of £1,059 Irene Mr. Charles Conn the
a Dublin provision merchant. The prosecutor, on
previous night,
when he was accosted by the prisoner, who claimed to ,
known to him, and pleaded great poverty. He was tress'
to take her to a refreshment-room to relieve her distrest,
when she suddenly snatched his book from his coat pocla;
elnretalarnydm.
and ran away, but was subsequently apprehended. No
to the property has been ascertained. The prisoner 'Ol9
remanded. .00
THE REVENUE OF IRELAND.—The total sum,
par
oPd
ua Parliamentary aon
paper,
h 13
a eda et no
Deeember, 1859, was £6,711,833. The customs produge.„
a
£2,304,578 ; the excise,. £3,109,000 ;st s
esatrhne frnoemtended
de
tEhzech3gilicif
property and income tax, £458,105 • small branches of the
hereditary revenue, £2520 ; miscellaneous, including re-
payments of advances, £306,648.
FIVE DRUNKEN MEN DROWNED.—A melane
accident
happened in the Seine onWednesday, not far fre„,
the Pont Neuf. Five wine shopkeepers, who had be%
lunching together, and had drunk rather freely conceived
the idea of having an excursion on the river. They entere:t
a boat, but owing to bad management or the moving abuilo
of the men in her, she soon capsized, and the whole of t
five were drowned.
STATE OF CRIME IN LANCASHIRE.—At the orcri;
ing of the Liverpool Assizes yesterday, during his eha D7's
to the grand jury, Mr. Baron Martin said that during la
whole judicial experience he had never seen sohea!,,,,leo
calendar. Excepting treason, it embraced all the
crt
which were dealt with in courts of justice. There scL,
seven cases of murder, some of them of an atrocious L"e
scription; 11 of manslaughter, several of these being on TPt..
very verge of murder ; and 17 of burglary. In fact, Ito
withstanding the example made in the county some rit
years ago, the crime of burglary had so increased these,
would be necessary to put in force the full power and
city of the law to repress it. Alluding to the recent raito.w,':7o
collision at Roby, and to the indictment of Platt, the ent,:,„',.
driver, for manslaughter, the learned judge said that, aro
a careful perusal of the depositions, he was of opinion that
Platt did all he really could to prevent the accident,
that the jury therefore would throw out the bill.