Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-10-11
HospICE OF GREAT ST. BERNARD.

HosPICE OF GREAT ST. BERNARD.
We are indebted to friend in this city for III,
opportunity of giving TO our readers the following
interesting letter from an intelligent Officer of ou
Navy, now on tour to Europe:
| HosrIcE or THE GRxAr ST.. BERSARD, t3
SwITzERLASD, AUeusr 20, 1851
have commenced this letter from the highest ha
b.aon in Europe eight thousand hundred feet above tn
level oths sea- came here yesterday from Maygny abou
twenty miles Distant the greater part Of the route on
mule The way the Pass is through beautiful valley
bounded by high and precpitous mountains the last five
miles rough and seep bad road even for mule W.
passed several glaciers and banks During the frs
part Of the journey suffered from hest but before arriving
the Hospicc the weather became cold and chilled through
quite numbed and, you may suppose, glad TO see
good FIRE at the Hoepice.
The road has been much improved in late years, but hov
BoSAPARTE managed to transport bis artillery over this 10
trcate pass is than wonder 70 me- Il nov
appears almost impossible As ascended vegeta
ton became scaniy miles before reaching the summit
Of the pass bleak barren, and desoa,e The bndna
the highest part Of the pass and contains beds for seven
ty eighty person Several hundred have been sheltered
in day. The monks, who devote themselves nobly to
this duty hospitality, priests Of the order Of ST. Angus
tine they commence young, eighteen but, from the
y of the climate and the great exposure they rarely remain
longer than fifteen years. Seven Of their number
stationed the Hospce, and every day in winter they ira
verse the pass accompanied by their dogs, relieve those
who may have lost their way who may have been covered
by the snow Scarcely winter passes without travel
Ter losing his e Some years ago three domestics of the
Convent with dogs while in search Of travellers,
vbaIrra hu cha In kandt
domescs perished in the way. Thousands the
pass annuay-in 1914 nineteen thousand The travellers
are relieved and entertained without distinction of rank
country religion They (the monks) will no. receive any
compensation The dogs do not go alone in search Of travel
es of great assistance in finding hem and also the
road when lost The dogs ke their maste also short
lived and exceed nine years, owing to rheumatism
and dogs both suffer from it, It is said that the latter
traveller nearly mile off, The winters are very
severe being heaped up forty feet In the
breeze makes it uncomfoltaby cold II showing heavily
and quite cold, real Alpine weather. with prospect Of
its lasting. Imagine what it must be in winter There are
about thirty vsers here amongst them FIVE Protestant
listers is the celebrated UREILE DuBIsSE, another
chap ain in the navy several ladies also here shall
make an effort to descend in spite of the storm.
t MAnTIeSr, P. M. (AUoUsT 29)
i left the Hospice in heavy Storm and so thick
could only few yards walked down. and had my mule
led by the guide. The about inches deep
the summit but gradually diminished descended In
FIVE minutes had ceased and turned into shortly
after entered cloud, the temperature increasing all The
while. After walk Of e-and aha hours found
selves with bright and pleasant weather. having lef
behind Clouds fain and Some who left the Hospc
several hours after my departure left it still snowing there
Joining the valley which travelled number Of others
which bodered by mountains covered with perpetus
In 1918 of these valleys completely diked by
avalanche the of and six hundred fee
wide four hundred high with base Of three thousand feet
There small in the yaliey which was prevented
passage thus accumulated until became immense body
of waters after some months the burst its way through
the snowbound barrier carrying every thing before itmen
CATTLE and houses Though warned, and expecting it every
moment hundred and forty persons io their lives.
have been fortnight in Swiifefand have tht
most interesting places and sghts, including number
Glaciers and the Mer de Gace intend crossing the Sim
pOn and will probably leave the country in ten days have
been much interested have taken great deal Of ex
ereise and may add been highly graed with my visit Th
country and scenery all that is interesting the people
towns not a, all In the Valleys in many parts Of Swz
eriand the people dreadfuly affected with gore thei
necks much swollen have with prouberance
nearly as large as their heads. = - Adieu! ii, c.. j.