llness of death. The inhabitants of those
parts of the Alps, exposed to these avalanches, assert that the
concussion of the air, produced by the voice, is often sufficient to
loosen, and bring down their immense masses. Hence the muleteer is
often seen to take the bells from his animals, when he passes through
a valley subject to this danger. A few years since some young men,
relying on the solidity of the ice, and wishing to try the echo, were
so imprudent as to discharge a pistol in a large cave which is at the
lower edge of the glacier des Bois, near Chamouny. The shock brought
down the roof, which crushed them on the spot.

At 11 o'clock we had passed most of the difficulties, and all the
dangers of our ascent, and reached a granite rock, which appears or
nipple, which forms the summit of Mont Blanc. This rock is only 1000
feet lower than the summit. Here we enjoyed a full view of the valley
and village of Chamouny, which had hitherto been masked by the
'Aiguille du Midi;' and when we recollected the promises of our
friends there, to watch our progress with their glasses, and were
convinced that they were at that moment observing us, we felt relieved
from the sensation which we had previously experienced, of being shut
out from the world. In fact, we learned afterwards, that they had seen
us distinctly, counted our number, and observed that one of the party
was missing: this was the guide we had left at the 'plateau.'

Our final object was now close at hand. We turned, with renewed ardor,
to accomplish it; continuing our zigzag path, till, after much
suffering from fatigue, cold, and shortness of breath, we stood, at
half an hour after noon, on the highest point of Europe!

Our first impulse, on arriving, was to enjoy the pleasure of throwing
our eyes around, without encountering any obstacle. The world was at
our feet. The sensations I felt were rather those of awe, than of
sublimity. It seemed that I no longer trod on this globe, but that I
was removed to some higher planet, from which I could look down on a
scene which I had lately inhabited, and where I had left behind me the
passions, the sufferings, and the vices of men. The houses of
Chamouny, appeared like dwellings of ants, and the river which flows
through the valley, seemed not sufficient to drown one of these pigmy
animals. These emotions made me for some time insensible to the cold,
but the piercing wind, which here had free scope, soon put an end to