New-York tribune., 1841-09-30
PRICE ONE CENT.
LAKE LEMAN AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS.

/
Vsltaire, Byron and others, Is from the Trenton
Emporium, written by Stacy G. Potts Esq. WHO has
lust returned from abroad.
Geneva, J.y %, lsil.
We'll. we are at Geneva-de gh,fuy situated in
the new and splendid Hotel des Berges-the wa
ter, Of Lake Leman spread ont before our win
dow: the beautiful city-beautIful in all its as
poets living around us-and Mount Blanc. with hi,
noary head, rising 10 the clouds in the distance
If anv thing in tho world could induce me TO ex-
change my own for a foreign home, it would be
such scenery as this-such people "a these ap.
pear. The city wears much OF the aspect of a
hourshing American town. The climate Is de-
lghtfully fresh and nvigora,ing. The waters flow
clear and limpid those of our own mountains
and valleys. The face of the whole country wears
the stamp Of grandeur and magnfcence. The
people are healthy, fne-looking, fne-spiritcd
race. We meet here with undetermined, warm
hearted men-men in whose society, though the
transient visiters of day; we form more elevated
opinions of human nature in its best phases. There
is tone and spirit abroad here in society which is
refreshing. You are not three hours in Geneva
before you forget your purse, and feel that there
arc neither pckpockets nor vagabonds herc-and
that is more than you will do in any other place
of equal population have visited on this side of
the Atlantic.
We take the shores of Lake Leman on our wav
to the Rhine-and shall, therefore, at present
only speak of the city. 1t is situated at the end
of the lake whose surplus waters here pass of in
the Rhone toward the Mcditcrrancan-and is built
both sides of the water, the two parts Of the
city being connected by fine bridge in the centre
of which another bridge leads off at right angles
to small green island just above it. 4 large
portion of the city is new; and the general style
of building is not only modern but chaste and du-
rable. The walls on cash side form sern-cir-
Gle terminating at the water. and form beautiful
promenades upon them, and beyond them wide
and winding avenues lead away in every direction
among luxuriant shade trees, along which the
dwellings of citizens who choose the suburbs are
situated, generally at little distance from the ave-
nue., in the midst Of highly ornamented ground.
In the great cities of England and France, the
chief attractions the public buildings upon
which millions OF money, wrung from the hard
hands of industry, lavshed to pamper the pride
and minister to the ambition of royalty. Here.
the country is without King palaces, and gor
geous public halls, are unknown; but the people
have the money, and make far mere .iudicous
use of it. by applying it to purposes of utility and
comfort You see-not the magnifcencc of the
few-but the blessings of competence diused
among the many.
The Church in which Calvin prcached-thc Col
legc where he taught divin,y-thc spot where he
died-(thc old house has been rebuilt)-and the
original manuscript letters Of him, and Bear,
preserved in the Library-wcrc among our first ac-
quaintances. The old pulpit the church is gone;
but the canopy, curious octagon in mahogany
work, under which Calvin preached. is there. His
grave is in of the churchyards; but he di
rectcd that no monument should mark the spot,
and ii is forgotten. In the Library we
original manuscripts Of Sir Isaac Newton and
Rousseau, and original portraits of all the fathers
and early advocates of the reformation
The villa occupied by Byron, and where he wrote
Il great part of the fourth Canto of Chdc Har-
old is Just above Geneva on the Lake, and in
full view from the tcwn-thc villa of Noltairc is
few miles below; and, indeed, in whatever drec-
ton turn our steps, there is something IN the
"reminiscences of the past, well in the singu-
lar beauty Of the scenery, to arrest attention.
Mount Blanc. | regret to say, lies beyond our
reach 1t is three days Journey thence and
back and we have so long tour, aud SO little
time before us to complete it, that only pay
him salutation us we pass. No written descriP-
ton can convey lESt idea of the sublimity OF Al
pine scenery. The immensely Of the range OF
mountains which the view from Laee Lcman en-
braces-their majestic clcvation-displaying on
less fields of snow, upon which the elareS
through tho long sammcr, but mclts, fill the
mind with sensations of wonder and amazcmcn,,
though long familiar with the picture as drawn by
the pen and the pencil.
To-day has been devoted to visiting the most in
teresting objects in the neighborhood We first
redo out to Ferney to look at The Chateau of Vol
taire. 1t is still preserved in all It's ext nal and
internal arrangement, just as when he died. We
wandered through the grounds, and visited the
rooms he once occupied: there the same old
chairs tables, pictures, card-case, bed and bed
ding and every article of furniture, Just as ne LETT
them. had Il curiosity 10 see exactly how such a
man lived; what were his domestic habits and
taste how he looked at home and that curiosity
was gratied. l have nothing say OF him: he
lad seniuS-was one of the gigantic spirits of his
ase-his name was echoed through the world
and, therefore. | stood behind his tomb, in the
Pantheon at Paris and visited his home at Fer
ney.
we next ode up TO the Chateau where Byron
lived In the wide worla a more beautiful spot
could hardly be selected. The house itself is hand
some, surrounded with line gravel walks and on
side cool embowerea promenade: on the
bank, commanding from the open gallery wbicR
surrounds the house, glorious view of the wide
valley of the lake. the city, the mountains of France
on one hand and of the Alps on the other--if all
that is sublime in scenery could WOO the muses.
from their tabled hill, NO wonder they should have
been his companions. His private room. his wr-
tng-,able, his chair &c. are kept for the benefit
of strangers, lon-hunting, like ourselves.
The day spent in wandering up the lake.
and along the range OF mountains, which may BE
considered the foot of the Alps; and late in the
evening have concluded thus much OF most
L of nur here.
In the morning at o'clock, we leave to make
the tour of the Lake and thence NC are of for the