BRIEG.

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Several convents and a castle flanked by four towers sur-mounted by metal globes give an original aspect to Brieg. Thecastle belongs to the family of Stockalper; one of the weal-thiest and most ancient in the country. The stranger is also struckwith the glistening appearance of the micaceous schist with whichthe houses are covered; and that of the beautiful stone here calledgiltstein , with a green ground, intersected by light yellow veins;having a very fine grain and taking a good polish, with whichseveral churches, especially that of the Jesuits , are embellished.Half a league from Brieg, at the extremity of the Gradez-tlial,are warm baths of the same nature as those of Leuk, which wereformerly much frequented.

This part of the country is very liable to storms and earth-quakes. Brieg was dreadfully shaken on the 1st of November1755, at the time of the great earthquake at Lisbon , and on the9th of December following, and the shocks continued during thewhole month.

Brieg and its environs suffered most severely from the war whichthe Directory carried on against the people of the Valais in 1798and 1799. The inhabitants of this unhappy country opposed tothe superior numbers and tactics of the French army the mostcourageous resistance ; but compelled at length to yield to neces-sity, the few who remained fled to the mountains, abandoningtheir desolated plains. The effects of these ravages are gradu-ally disappearing. The establishment of the new road, the afflu-ence of strangers which it draws into the country, and the easyconveyance of merchandise, will in time restore wealth and pros-perity.

Owing to the inclosed and sheltered situation of Brieg, theclimate is very warm ; and hence the soil produces many plants

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