The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-12-18

Vaucluse is hidden among the hills,
fourteen or fifteen miles in north cas-
tern DIRECTION from Avignon. Having
made our arrangements the even
previous, we left in apost chaise at the
dawn of day, while the stars were
yet bright in cloudless and transparent
armament. The gradual advances of
morning, from the gray twilight of the
horizon 10 skies of the soitest and rich
| est hues, were delightful. At length
the sun rose in all its splendour, and
poured a golden flood of light upon the
Landscape and the batllements of the am
clent city, now seen in the distance and
receding from our view. From green
eminence, crowned with orchards of
olives, the eye catches wide and en-
chanting prospect of the vale of the
Rhone on one side, and on the other,
of fertile plain, openining between the
hills towards Vaucluse.
Passing the little white village OF Mo-
liese, seated upon the brow of hill of
the same name and those of Tore and
Gardam, occupying the bosom of rich
valley beyond, we reached the banks of
the Sorgia at Lille, a pretty town stand
inc upon both sides of clear stream,
which leads the traveller to anticipate
the purity and copiousness Of the foun-
tain whence il emanates. Its noisy and
lmpid waters bathe the very thresholds
OF some of the villagers, who from their
windows may see the trout playing upon
the pebbly bottom.--On either bank
groves of trees have been planted, and
avenues for public walks opened, en-
bellished with degree of taste seldom
found united with rustic simplicity.
| Beyond Lille the country becomes
more solitary. The path winds through
unfenced fields, bordering upon the right
hand of the Sorgia, which for some miles
itloss sight of, tllIt again suddenly bursts
upon the eye Of the vslant, in beau
tifuI cascade at the entrance of The vale
of Vaucluse. On one side of the falls,
the rocks are high, broken aud precip-
ilous and on the other, there is hut
'ust room enough for path between
the base of ridge of hills and the mar
gin of the stream. The gorge opens in
such manner, that the valley and the
fountain are entirely secluded from the
rest OF the world, and cannot be dscov-
cred, till the traveller finds himself in
the bosom of the glen, enclosed on eve
ry side by lofty, bald and craggy noun
| talns.
From the pass TO the head of the
valley is perhaps mile and ahalf. A
long both sides of the Sorgia are mar
row belts of alluyian, clothed in the
liyeliest green, and bordered by trees,
among which was the almond already in
full bloom. Its flower is delicious in
complexion as we'll as in fragrance and
was doubly grateful from being found III
this sequeslered retreat, as also for of
fordiug the first indications of the re-
turn of spring. Vegetation was here
several weeks in advance ofthe adjacent
country, owingto southern exposure, to
constant irrigation, and above all to
a security against the city winds from
the north. On the day OF our visit, the
air possessed the temperature of May,
and the softest gales breathed around US.
The same causes must operate the
whole year, and it may be doubted
whether the frosts OF winter are ever
severe in this sunny vale, embosomed
in the form of crescent among the
hills.
| Leaving our carriage at the small inn
which bears the name of The Two
Lauras,' and taking the landlord for a
guide, we traced up the silver stream of
the Sorgia to It's fountain. Nothing
can be more exquisitely beautiful. The
water is clear as crystal, being as per-
fectly transparent as air itself, and of
such depth as to exhibit allthe hues Of the
rocky bed rejecting from the surface Of
the current. We counted six or seven
distinct colours, such as green, pur-
pie, blue, and white, blending by
the most delicious shades and forming
the most splendid piece Of liquid mOsa-
&c imaginable. This is a striking pee
culiarity, which distinguishes the Sorgia
from all other streams.
From the cascade already mentioned,
at the outlet Of the valley, to the foun-
tain, the current is the whole way so
rapid as frequently to break over the
rocks and in several places are falls Of
considerable height, the murmurs of
which fill the glen and die away in e.
choes among the hills. The confused
and perpetual uproar, sent back upon
the ear in hollow reyerberations from
the cliffs, has an indescribable effect in
soothing the mind aud in hIling the
feelings into a pleasing melancholy.
Sauntering along the green margin of
the stream, we often paused TO read Pc
harch, and to think how often he had
watched the descent and listened to the
music Of the same bright waters So
vivid are the impressions produced by