The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-23

By a Lady Of Virginia. l vol. - mo. PIP 30l.-
Philadelphia Lea & Blanchard-isi2.
To say that we have read this volume is TO bestow
on II a compliment, which few modern :" Tales and
Souvenirs" have received from u.s. YET when we have
finished H. we are willing 10 confess that the compt
ment Of reading is more than repaid by the compile
ment Of entertainment
The fair writer is evidently endowed with polish
ed mind, and refined taste. She be,rays discrini-
mating of the sublime and beautiful both in m
ternal sentiments and outward objects. From the
rare materials which her very favorable opportunities
presented she has apparently struggled more to deter
mine what to suppress than 10 choose what she should
publish While composing her pages, we cannot help
imagining that all around her neaness order and
quietude. There is hurried ambition to get out
book-now so common and SO easy thng-no meg
l'gence--no confusion of chapters, comminging Of
paragraphs, or involuiion Of sentences. The matter
Is worthy TO be told and the of the telling is
worthy ofthe matter The words and ideas are chosen
with discrimination, and associated with good taste
The perceptions delicate and the expression
Of them corresponding The pen leaves nothing il
touches incomplete; the refined taste discovers new
beauties amid well known scenes, and the polished
pencil invests them with freshly inviting colors.
little than the first half Of the volume is
cuPed by very pretty but tragic story, A Tale Of
Ancestors" The of the tale shift from the
Isle of Wight, TO France, to Italy, and finally close in
Virginia. Some of them quite dramatic and af-
fecting, drawn with uncomfortable skill, but all
brought TO happy conclusion. In the of the
story historical "reminiscences Of the gaudy
Court of LOUIS QuINzE, and interesting reference
in its concluding scenes, 10 the famous Iudan Oh eff
tain, LOGAN. A hunting in the forest of Fon-
tainebleu scene at the Theatre Francois, " Court
Ball. and catastrophe in the forests of Virginia.
| are executed with fine effect
The remaining portion Of the volume is devoted to
sketches Of scenery and incidents of tour in Swift
zerand very ngenousy relieved by tales and ballads
which the writer derives from her compognons de
poyage, and into the thread of her narrative
Ofthese, " The Soldiers Bride" is a sweet story and
"The Valley of Godau' an affecting one Both
claim the merit Of being founded on fact. In the
course Of the latter is given graphic sketch of the
manner in which fashionable young gentleman
spends his time in Paris
| The Fragments Of Journal" consists Of ami
mated and interesting sketches of "Chamouni," the
Glaciers" "the Mer de Gace," the Col de Balm, =
Mont ST. Bernard" "the Cite D'Aost,"" the Val
lee D'Aost, }" an Alpine Storm Pivaronc, "Lom-
hardy" an Italian Sunset" the Righ" SC. &C.
These sketches introduce to the finest of
Switzerland, and the fair authoress is ingenious
enough to carry along il were; in the very char
abanc in which she travels through the various vi
cssiudes hair breadth scapes and amusing incidents
of her journey.
We would fain quote for our readers some of the
na xyh ha IN
is inconvenent must content ourselves by extract
ing part of the chapter which, though not the best,
| is tolerabe sample of the fragments ]"
The descent Of the st. Bernard, on the southern
SIDE resembles the ascent on the other for some dis
tanceaways wild and savage; and for the first three
leagues which compelled TO descend upon
the mules, the same naked and barren rocks the
huge mountains, appropriately called Montague Nor
ties, destitute OF human habitations presented them
| selves on every side.
| Ii with no small satisfaction that reached
the little village Of St Remy, whence small chara
banc practicable to the Cite Aost, at the foot Of
4 the mountain. The descent from this place COM
paratively easy, though the road runs during the
whole distance upon the ede of precipce fright
full that appears wonderful how Napoleon, with six
y thousand men and artillery could have passed in
safety, especially at that Of the year. for
ny parts Of the road Iemarked poles of twenty and
thirty feet in height planted to mark its course when
| buried in snow.
We stopped at the town of Ivree at the termination
Of Vaee D'Aost, in the hope again Of being able to
procure post horses but the still existed
| why we could not have them, and then we were
obliged again to engage old roturier, with bis
poor jaded horses. While waiting for then,
to take little refreshmen lady, apparently Of some
rank and consequence, having stopped at the same
house and breakiasted in the with US,
tered into versaton, and talking volubly many
subjects told us that she lived very She de-
scrbed her dwelling as one Of peculiar loneliness, to
the miserable condition of the population which she
said were unprincpled and vicious they hi
deous and deormed that their characters were in ex-
act accordance with their appearance. The ideas OF
robbery and murder il they. had never entered my
head before might have ntrudcd themselves after her
account, which was expressed in the glowing style OF
her country Seeing US preparing to depart, she al
vsed strongly If we had any regard Tor our safety
OF comfort to take warning Ivy the clouds that were
lowering over the river and the muttered threats OF
the distant thunder, and 10 postpone departure
few hours, telling us that the storms in that part OF
Piedmont were extremely Violent and that we might
probably repent of our experiment when was too late
We however paid but Little attention to her sugges-
tons, and continued our journey. When we had
proceeded few leagues, the heavens became darker
and darker, until every thing was involved in por
tentous gloom; the wind blew in ffu gusts, and eve
ry thing announced the approach oil the tempest, which
at length broke forth with unparalleled fury For two
hours and half it ragged with unrcmitting violence.
The sharp and vivid flashes in quick succession,
followed by the deatenng roar of thunder, and the
rain mingled with "pelting pitiless" hail poured
like deluge. The road was soon flooded with water
in such that it was impossible to distinguish
IT, and the little rivuets that crossed it at intervals
| were swollen to torrents.
Notwithstanding these difficulties, we continued to
proceed, hoping to reach place Of shelter, until a
tree clled by the wind the road, impeded our
progress. A man, who happened to be running in
the direction with in his hand aided the
coachman in taking it out Of the way, as the smaller
brahches only of The tree lying in the road and told
us that quarter Of an hour would bring TO
the village to which he was Fastening.