The New York herald., 1851-09-27
Accents OF Mont Rl.nc.

TO EDITOR OF THE LONDON NkWN,
Having lately read an account Of Mr.. Albert
Smiths and three other gentemens ascent Of Mont
Blanc, IL seems but fair that my ascension should
als1 be published. had no wish to vaunt my ex-
pOits 10 the public, but really, that the papers
are teeming with their ascension, which was UNDER
taken with far greater advantages than my own, j
have naturally a right 70 claim taat mine should
not be altogether omitted.
which amounted to upwards Of thirty persons, and
Of the sun Of Gl50 which il cost them. / have at
least the satisfaction Of knowing that mine cost bu:
little. agreed with three guides for City francs
each. and took porter part Of the way, bit in con-
sequence Of their good behavior and tn, great da2-
ger these men we're exposed to, thro1 1gh my swn
ioly Of not being tied to the rope, paid them more
than my original agreement.
Her Chamouny at quarter to III o ;lo,k (nearly
four hours after the othtrs), and in rapidly crossing
the Glacier dcs Bossons lost my footing In Jumping
over erevasse, where my Alpine pole disappes- ed,
and was myself sliding down the fearful abysI when
succeeded in catching the porter BY his leg, who
also unluckily fell. We were saved from inevitable
destruction by the guide in advance.
| then crossed the remainder Of the Glacier,
With rope round my body, and bivouacked at the
Gfsnds Mulets at sunset. Mr.. Albert Smith s
PARTY were enjoying the warmth OF hre My
only covering was a blanke;, whilst the fuel wa,
scany; IL consisted OF three small pieces Of wood.
which We picked up on the way.
| left the Grands Mulets about quarter Of an
Jur after the great caravan. IL sss midnight.
We were all three tied together. we nad csicu
hour, and after we had been, suppose, couple OF
hours en rope our lanterns went out, and for so me-
time there other sht than the stars OF the
ornament. IL was bitter moment we were
then indebted to the grand caravan for our direc
tion, which some little distance In advance
The effect by starlight Of that compact, dark body
With lanterns was not of this world-they were
moving silently along-not a yoics gas heard-il
was the march more Of spirits THAI Of mortals.
The grand plateau is sublime and awful, worthy
Of the name OF plateau 10 Mont Blanc. The morn
ing's sun rise beats hollow all that have seen on
any mountain.
Holes in the snow, worked by the others, consde
raj times and at each fall was smothered with a
rrourd hail or sleot which the wind drove from the
nuuhtain. My thirst vas Unsuitable, more intense
than anything ] have felt, more so even than b
riding 10 the Dead Sea in the month of June.
also ielt great In linaticn to sleep. Two Of my
guides were perfectly black in their faces and the
other as white as Hamlets ghost. We reached
the summit a fe minutes after the others. The
viev would have been magnificent. but IL was toC
bieb. 80 much so, that the Lake of Geneva looked
moe like n marsh than q sea.
Cur descent was rapid the guides slid me down
IN their ba,ks some of The steepes. places, which
was both exciting and refreshing. We returned u
Chamouny at hslfpast six L. NJ, on the litn IN
slant. and though much exhausted nave fslt na
further Inconvenience than sn Inflammation IN ths
ty,s. which lasted couple Of days and almost de-
trivtd me of my sight ,.,,
ln y0ur Journal you seem rather 10 rieicoie mere
swsteur seronauts and climbers Of Mont Blanc
Having walked un Ter the Sc in a diving apparatus
utie than 100 feet deep. aud hsung ae'c enieat tsf