The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-06-14

and thermometer to them. My watch was flve
minutes past three O'Clock. At about five min
utes after three in the afternoon OF the 10th Au-
gust, 1925, the barometer marked fifteen inches
nine lines and one tenth French: and when We
left Coutet's house the day BEFORE it stood at rs
inches one line and one-tenth The thermome-
Ter was tllree-fourths of degree below zero,
Reaumur. Having made notes of these observa-
tions, Coutet pointed out the principal offsets
worthy of notice, and most clearly to be seen
from this highest point in our quarter of the
globe. 1t being three O'Clock, or little laters
the sun was in the southwest, and interrupted
our view very much in the direction of Geneva
and the Jura the Jura mountains formed our ho.
rison i'll that direction. Langress, the highest
town in France, we could not see, although it
has been said that the chain Of the Alps has been
seen from it. On the opposite side of Mont
Blanc the Apprentices were visible for vast e1-
tent, and the situation of Milan and Turin were
pointed out to u.s. We looked very carefully
and with an earnest wish to discover any thing
like the Mediterranean sea in the line over Ge-
noa, but cannot say that saw it. On the side
Of Switzerland the Jungfra', near Grindelwald,
was very conspicuous, as we'll as the Mont buets
the Diablerets, the Ghemmi, and St. Gothard;
more to the eastward, Mont Rosa was visible,
which is 2430 toscs above the level of the sea.
The Valley of Chamouni, and even its little vii.
lage, can be seen wish telescope. The convent
of the Grand st. Bernard was hid, owing to its
situation among the the mountains. We could
rot see much of the Alice Blanche, or Mont
Blanc, Immediately at its base on that side, ow-
ing TO the various projections, which, as it weres
grow from its sides.
The day was remarkably fne-there was not
cloud above our heads; but on many the less
er chains Of mountains, and on the Alpennines,
there we're light clouds and vapour.
Couiiet endeavoured to make me see star,
but either he was mistaken, or his eyes were bet.
ter than mine. walked to the extreme end OF
the summit, and looked over towards the MARI
time Alps: this Chain was very distinct. The
length Off the summit of Mont Blanc is two hun
dred PAGES, and nearly level. found difiicul-
ty in measuring the width, for the sides are an inn
mediate descent SO that did not know where
to begin or where to finish. The whole figure
may be understood as a hog's-back shape.-f
am told that the summit of this mountain has
been described as forming nearly a triangle; but
we did not find this to be the case now 1t ie
evident, from the drifts Of snow during the tur-
buent winds in winter, that its appearance may
change in twenty-four hours; and that which is
of triangular form to-day may be circular tos
morrow. The variety and changes i'll the drifts
Of snow on exposed plains, are sufficiently wei!
known to every traveller.
Every object seen from this summit (246O toss
es above the level fthe sra) becomes so dimi-
nutive, with the exception OF few principal
mountains, and so forc-shortened, that it seems
entirely to have changed its form and character.
The beautiful Ague du Midi, and those OF
Charlnoa, the delight and admiration OF every
stranger who visits Chamouni, are in some de.
gree lost i'll the general confusion; ought to
saw in truth, that no one particular object could
be seen distinctly: every thing appears SO
massed together, that all power of distinction IS
lost.
While stationary on the summit ofMont Blanc,
experienced a very peculiar sensation of light.
ness Of BODY, which was also felt by some of the
party to whom mentioned the circumstance. 1t
appeared as if could have passed the blade ofa
knife under my shoes, or between them and the
ice on which | stood. mentioned this fact to
Ebel, Mt Zurich, and also to other persons whom
| thought capable Of calculating the cause; but
: their explanations were not satisfactory. The
subject will, perhaps, serve to amlse your stu
ious bours: OILY vouch for the fact. The ra-
jyity ofthe air did not affect me quite so much or
the summit as when laboring through the deep
SHOWS and climbing the ascents on our passage,
during the ten hours were employed in as
cendng from Les Grands Mulets.
The sense of hearing was not interrupted, if
there had been any thing to heari the smell,
and power Of feeling, were not tllmnshedi but
the faculties of the mind were in less activity
The sky was of a very dark indigo blue; this
deep tint was, indeed, among the most remark
able features we observed. Being, as we were,
above all yapour and thick atmosphere, which
rises to certain height above the level of the
earth, the medium through which we saw it was
OF course more purei and we looked, asst were,
into dark ocean of infinite space. After having
well observed, as far as could be distinguished,
the principal objects within reach, and again exc
amined our glasses, the barometer was found to
remain steady: the thermometer, however, had
somewhat changed, and the mercury had fallen
very little below the point at which it was first
marked, three -fourths Of degree below zero Of
Reaumur. The wind began to feshen from the
southwest, and Coutet would not sufierus to re-
main.
The snow drifted from the neighbourlng noun
tans, and was hurrying along the surface OF the
summit, about half way up to our knees, put
none of it remained on the ice where we stood.
This drifting snow, meeting with resistance
such as the body or legs of q man, would soon ac-
cumulatc, not greatly to his comfort.
lhave mentioned to you before that We had
been ten hours coming from the Grands Mnlets
; "a the spot where we now stood. Although our
!. return would not occupy more than half that
fine. still it was already late and we might, there
fore. by some accidental delay, have to cross the
:. DANGEROUS Glacier de Tacconai III the dark, OF
: else sleep unshetercd on the ice. The injunc-
Z t;ons of the guides were positive, and we were