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strengthened by the number of passages in various parts of the Alps, formerly frequented, but nowentirely filled with ice, as the one which originally led from Chamounie in Savoy, to Cormajeur inthe valley of Aosta , &c. But the question which remains to be determined, Whether glaciersincrease in height, or extend in basis ? is of too material consequence to geology to allow of anypremature decision either in the negative or affirmative; for which reason, I shall at present deferhazarding my opinion on that subject, but reserve it for another work.

These accumulations appear to be in general formed of a whitish sand, containing mica, quartz,and feldspath ; finally, decomposed granite, mixed with solid fragments of primitive rock.

In the one nearest to the icy vault from whence issues a part of the Rhone, I picked up a rareand curious piece of feldspath, not unlike mother-of-pearl, and, by its weight and structure,resembling the stone called by naturalists Labrador.

The current which flows from this vault (whose height is, at times, eighty feet, and length twohundred) mingles its waters with those of a small rivulet at two hundred and fifty yards distance,conceived with great reason, by Monsieur de Saussure, to be the real source of the Rhdne.

This transparent stream is formed by the junction of three springs, which flow from the basisof Mont Sasberg, at six hundred paces from the above vault, a mountain which forms a part of theGrimsel , before mentioned. The elevation of the valley, ■where the junction of these rivuletstakes place, is accounted four thousand feet above the level of the sea, and two thousand fourhundred and fourteen higher than the lake of Geneva. It is certain that the general opinionentertained by many, that the source of the Rhone flows from beneath the glacier, arises in greatmeasure from the idea, that the foul current which issues from thence, being a much larger bodythan the rivulet itself, was naturally supposed to be, 'on that account, the source of so formidablea river. Be this, however, as it may, that opinion is at present pretty generally refuted by theinhabitants of the country; and besides, the difference that exists is so trifling,, that I shall notfurther enlarge on the subject; but observe, that the water that issues from beneath this icyregion raises Reaumur’s thermometer two degrees and a half only above the freezing point;whereas the other, contiguous to the three clear and sparkling springs, raises it to fourteen.

Having so far completed my observations, and taken some refreshment in a wretched miserablecottage, of which there are two, (Vide N° XXIV.) close to the vault, in the bottom of the valley,I returned to Ober-gestelin, where, owing to my poor beast’s having lamed itself during mymorning’s excursion, I was detained till the following day,—a circumstance which had like tohave been unpleasant; for, it being Sunday, it was with the greatest difficulty I could procureeither guide or mule to accompany me, the Vallaisans being, as before noticed, extremely strictand religious. Having however staid till public service was over, seconded by the influence of thecurt, (an influence not to be despised in any country, much, less in one where it exerts itself withso much power), I soon obtained both, and continued, for the space of two or three English miles,the same road I had pursued the preceding evening; then, crossing the Rhfine on a stone bridge,supported on twq rocky peaks, the road begins to be at once steep, stony, and contracted,following at times a narrow valley, and at others the abrupt'sides of a chain of lofty mountains,mostly composed of different species of schistus, very like horn-stone, as also of a kind of lamel-lated rock, which, by the structure and quantity of feldspath, hornblende, and quartz, contained init, does not in the least differ from the spiry needles on the Great St. Bernard , its component partshaving apparently the whole of the principles which compose the generality of those peaks. Buthere the road changes rather suddenly, and takes an eastern direction; whereas, hitherto, it hadtended from north to south. The rocks, likewise, exhibit different forms and structure ; for thosewhich sheltered the contracted valley I was then climbing, instead,of walking, were at first of abluish schistus, and, brittle, with wide and irregular strata, to which succeeded, for the space ofnearly two miles, a kind of red slate, striated with quartz; in fine, after three hours’ great labour,ascending rapidly the whole way, 'we reached a small plain, on which a few sheep were grazinground a miserable-looking chalet, whose honest and rustic inhabitants received us with hospitality,and insisted on our partaking of their humble fare. From hence the prospect is again superb,commanding an extensive glacier, which absolutely appeared as if suspended between two spiryneedles of granite, the Gries and Blint-horne, at the same time hanging over a valley of immensedepth, forming a kind of lengthened vault or cave, covered by a large cornice office, under whichflows a rapid torrent, foaming as it dashed from rock to rock, presenting to the eye a beautiful

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