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totally dead, yet are these venerable men indefatigable in their pursuits, and have their bread, wine,butter, milk, hay, straw, and even wood for firing, thus conveyed,' though it occasions infinitelabour and great expense. They have likewise one hundred and twenty cows belonging to theconvent, which, during the summer months, graze in one of their meadows, about six miles distant;and though their produce in butter must of course be considerable, yet is it not found adequateto the consumption of the house. But the object which they mostly complain of and which becomesheavily expensive, is the wood : thirty mules are regularly employed, four months in the year, infetching it from the basis of the mountain; and, considering the small quantities each timeconveyed by those animals, and the number of fires invariably kept up the whole year round, thisarticle is a heavy charge to the community, and accounts for their not baking in the convent.They have their bread made five miles off, in the hamlet of Auxieres. The provisions likely to bemet with in the house, and indeed the only ones that can be preserved good for any time, consistin salt meats, dried fruits, and vegetables, with different sorts of Italian paste, such as maccaroni,vermicelli, &c. all excellent of their kind ; but as for fresh meats, they never can remain long inthat state, owing to the extreme rarity of the air.

Before concluding this description, I shall give my reader some idea of the different functionsor dignities exercised by the friars, who may assuredly, by their religion and virtues, be deemedornaments to humanity. The first of these, as before noticed, is styled the Prevot, chosen by amajority of votes from among the community: he must, however, have employed his youth inevery act of hospitality towards the relief of the unfortunate traveller of the Alps ; and of course,at the time of being chosen, is in general old and infirm t for which reason, since the late regula-tions have been established, he is allowed to reside at Martignie, which, the reader may recollect,is seated at the basis of the mountain, where the chapter has still a house and some church landsbelonging to it. This house, or rather chateau, likewise serves for an asylum to the rest of thefriars, whom age and infirmity prevent from living on the top of the mountain. The second inrank may be deemed the Prieur Claustral , who is expected to be a resident in the convent, and ischarged with the administration of the community. Thirdly, the Sacristain, who superintendsthe care of the chapel, which is well decorated, though on so barren a spot; for the altar, in parti-cular, exhibits marble columns of exquisite workmanship, which must have cost immense labourand expense; merely for their conveyance hither. Fourthly, the Celerier, or Procurateur, whohas the care of providing, giving out the provisions, and also of transacting the external businessof the house. Fifthly, the Father Clavandier, who distributes the necessary wine and liquors totravellers, as well as to the community at large. And, sixthly, the Father Infirmier, to whomthe care of the sick is confided, and who must consequently understand surgery and medicine.

The number of friars who now form the community is five-and-twenty, twelve of whom are tobe constantly resident in the convent, and the rest either at the different curacies belonging to thechapter, which are generally filled by the eldest, or else on their travels in quest of donations.The above charges or functions do not, however, in the least prevent them from rendering everyassistance in time of danger, or during the grand passages, which are those times in the year whenbusiness renders the mountain more frequented; for, with the greatest philanthropy, do they all,indiscriminately, lend a helping hand to the unfortunate, and pay a generous tribute to sufferinghumanity, by adminstering every comfort to the unhappy being who appears overcome withfatigue, cold, or lassitude; and every individual, let his situation be what it may, meets with kindand generous treatment; and all are, with equal attention, lodged, fed, and attended to, gratis,as long as necessity obliges them to stay. A large comfortable apartment is allotted for the poor;while those who make a more decent appearance remain with the community, and eat at their tableduring their residence. Surely, then, too much praise cannot be given to the founder of such aninstitution, as well as to the zeal, indefatigable care, and extreme humanity, of those respectablemen, from whom I have not only experienced the kindest attention, but have witnessed the dangersthey run in rescuing from the snow the unfortunate traveller. I cannot but express a hope, that,whatever changes the religion and political systems of Europe may undergo, this institution, as toits great object^will not be abolished. Yet, with all these precautions, scarcely a year passeswithout some, and indeed I may add many, individuals perishing while crossing this passage,which may certainly be regarded as one of the highest of the Alps ; and many, though they maynot be totally given up to death’s cold embrace, are frequently found with their limbs so frozen,