Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-09-25

ASCENT OF MOUNT BLANC ny ALBERT
SMlrn.-Chamouix, Aug. l5.-This
quiet Alpine valley has for the last week
been in most unusual state nj activity
and excitement, Several days ago the
people learned that three students from
the University Of Oxford, and an Eng
lish author, were getting themselves in-
to condition for attempting the ascent OF
Mount Blanc. Guides and villagers
were at once on the qui p,re, and the adj
venturous party were regarded with
much interest wherever they went. On
Thursday morning, att o'clock, all The
preparations being complete, the party
set out from the hotel de Londres. II
included Mr.. Floyd, said to be son OF
the general of that name, and cousin to
Sir Robert Peel; Mr.. Phillips, a third
Oxferdman, and Mr.. Albert Smith, with
sixteen guides sixteen porters, and
number of asp.rants for the post OF
guide, who attended the voyage for the
purpose of learning the route to the
summit of the mountains.
After their departure, telescopes were
fixed from the windows Of the inn, and in
other places, to watch the progress Of
the toilsome ascent, and before six o..
clock it was evident that the voyagers
had crossed the great glacier, and had
arrived at their resting place for the
night-on the Grands Mdiets. Yes,er-
day morning, .soon as daylight afford
ed clear view, the adventurers were
again visible by aid of "a glass, and by
twelve o'clock were seen making the
final ascent. They rested on the sum-
nit TOR about twenty minutes, and then
commenced their descent arriving here
last night about 7 o'clock. The excite
ment during the previous twenty-iour
hours had been very great in Chamouix.
Anxious wives and parents having hus-
bands and sons amongst the party up
! in the SHOWS, and the interest being by
no means diminished by the fact that
Sir Robert Peel (who arrived here after
the departure Of his relative for his as
cent) invited nearly all the men remain
ing in the village, about sixty in number,
TO an entertainment, provided at an du-
be,ge, where they were supplied with
wine and other popular liquids in which
to drink "the health of the Engishmen
who were sleeping on Noun, Blanc"
THIS ceremony was performed very
zealously, and repeated in the most
willing manner again and again till
long after midnight. When in the ev-
cning the party from Mount Blanc ap-
preached the village, nearly all the in
habitants assembled to meet them. Guns
were fired in quick succession the harps
and fiddIes of the valley were in requi-
si'ion, and sort of half comical, half
triumphal scene ensued. The travel.
lers and guides looked very jaded and
sun-scorched, had very blood-shot eyes
and rather dilapidatcd costumes, but in
other respects seemed TO be in tolerable
condition. THIS successful ascent by
four Englishmen turns the scale Of num-
berS in favor of the English T; the French
tourists having been hitherto accustom-
ed TO point with satisfaction 10 the fact
tha, more of their countrymen than Of
ours had succeeded in reaching the top
Of the King Of the Alps. The presen.
forms the 25th ascent the first dating
in 1897. The cost as well as the labor
and danger OF these daring excursions
is very great. The talk Of the village
declares that the ascent will cost the
party Of four travellers fully fl5o.