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

LITERATURE.

The Eagle's Nest in the Valley of Sixt ; a sum-
mer _Home among the Alps : together with sonic
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 has e recently ap-
peared, this one has claim to nos city. 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 its
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 Swit-
zerland, 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 fistal
issue of such endeavours. A youth, who was b.elp-
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
1 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 joy
was concluded in sorrow. 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, or
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 01
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 stands
above, and gazes down the glades and vistas of the
forest, the aisles and colonnades with which Nature
o- -' th' wayside temples she wars
every hand to the gi.c.t Author of this besot;
ful universe." Another account of the scenery IS
also well worthy of notice. The Plateau des Fonds 35,.
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 am-
phitheatre of precipices which opened on us at the
grassy knoll Vaence we first caught sight of 0,1
chalets; but it is only from this spot that their full
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 their
wildest aspect about midway between the two 0'
tremities of the arc. At its northern end they are
crowned by grass-land so steep as to make on°
wonder that even Alpine sheep and Alpine sheP_;
herds dare to trust themselves upon its slippT
surface ; just above those tremendous crags, as tnef
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 lie°
of bare rock either stands out sharply against the
sky, or is capped by a glistening patchiof glacier't
It is difficult in perusing a work like 4the pressed
to decide which portions are most striking ale
which passages the most pleasing. It is certain
a most attractive subject for one's leisure hours to
mark the peculiarities and become familiarised WIP",
the splendours of such scenery as is here laid befog
us. There is no doubt that this work will inP!,
many tourists to extend their travels, and see t.°'
themselves the grandeur and beauty so eloqueutit
pourtrayed in the exciting and interesting recoqf
here given. The writer of this work has already
a
appeared before the public in other books of traced_
mirable work entitled " Peaks, Passes, and
Gls
' '
and also he was one of the contributors to that
tiers." Many readers will be glad to renew
their
acquaintance with him, and this last production ::,
his pen is certainly a success, inasmuch as it Tar
fore us an animated account of a charming SThe
and whose description is impressively given.
style of the work is in every way suitable, and
recommending " The Eagle's Nest" to the perus n
of all desirous of dwelling on such topics, there 090
be no fear of a disappointing result. It not often so
much information is afforded in so agreeable
manner as is the case in this delightful littie
volume.

,—T tO
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY: society held i -
21st anniversary at the gardens yesterday, Mr. James
wood in the chair. The annual reports from the coueo
auditors, and officers were read, from which it appeared 14$
the total receipts were somewhat less than last year/ 7.4
larger than those of 1858. The decrease was attribw,
solely to the unfavourable weather during this seati
but, nevertheless the receipts from the exhibitions
been £5,380 Bs. 6d., against £5,531 17s. received
year ; the total receipts from all sources this year ive,,re4
including the cash in hand brought forward from last Yelp
account, £12,529 18s. 9d., and the payments £9,814 0
5d., leaving £2,715 14s. 4d. balance in hand. Several,eoo
works had been completed during the past year,
of the old debenture debts paid off. 103 new Fellows lc
and z
joined the Society, making the number now on the bee 6
2,294, and 131,708 persons had visited the gardens tly
season. Thanks were voted to his Reyal Highness, '`"
President, the members of Council, and the officers.
Polio'
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—At the Liverpool
eourt yesterday, before Mr. Rafiles,.an unfortunate feni
nlsoner, who claimed t)
-a‘
named Mary Barns, was charged with stealing bills a fX,
Lime-street to 11° be
change to the amount of £1,059 frem Mr. Charles Conn
a Dublin provision merchant. The prosecutor, on rej,
when
niouhse nwiagshat,ccwoasstepda
known to him, and pleaded great poverty. He was Avis..
to take her to a refreshment-room to relieve her distre;
when she suddenly snatched his book from his coatfc6oo
and ran away, but was subsequently apprehended. goat
°
bssyintghealop
Wad
to the property has been ascertained. The prisoner
remanded.
THE REVENUE OF IRELAND.—The total 511,—,' wet
learn from a Parliamentary paper, paid into the BO'iel of
as the net produce of Ireland in the year ended the 3,',ced
December, 1859, was £6,711,833. The customs pro°„'"osl ;
£2,304,578; the excise, £3,109,000; stamps, k;s‘wf'' the
property and income tax, £158,105 • small branchea._t re'
hereditary revenue, £2,520 ; miscellaneous, includlno
payments of advances, £306,648. Alta
FIVE DRUNKEN MEN DROWNED.—A , „tfora
accident happened in the Seine been
onWednesda3', not far a
the Pont Neuf. Five wine shopkeepers, who ha
lunching together, and had drunk rather freely, caleet- /
ered
the idea of having ansxcursion on the river. They °l3boa
a boat, but owing to bad management or the moving about
the
of the men in her, she soon capsized, and the whole °
five were drowned.
1, °Pete
STATE OF CRIME IN LANCASHIRE.—At the
charge
ing of the Liverpool Assizes yesterday, during his. n. hi°
to the grand jury, Mr. Baron Martin said that cluri%i a
whole judicial experience he had never seen so heoeo
calendar. Excepting trdason, it embraced all the c ore
which were dealt with in courts of justice. Thare_s de'
seven cases of murder, some of them of an atrociou
II the
scription ; 11 of manslaughter, several of these being
~° oot"
very verge of murder; and 17 of burglary. fes,f
withstanding the example made in the county soeL,t
it
years ago, the crime of burglary had so increased tfs'eve.
would be necessary to put in force the full power auu_ool
rite of the law to repress it. Alluding to the recent trail
collision at Roby, and to the indictment of Platt, thee:iffter
driver, for manslaughter, the learned judge said th and
a careful perusal of the depositions, he was of opill'°_ Loa
Platt did all he really could to prevent the aecina",
that the jury therefore would throw out the bill.